Research Proposal

Lorna Jeremy

Professor Matyakubova

English 201

23 March 2017

Research Proposal

Are Phobias Genetic or Learned?

In a recent study, “About 10.2 million American adults ages 18 and over, or some 8.7 percent of people in this age group in a given year, have some type of specific phobia, or extreme fear. ” Phobias are the most common mental disorder in the United States. Typically, the symptoms can include nausea, shortness of breath, and rapid heartbeat.  Moreover, many people who suffer from phobias tend to experience feelings of isolation, anxiety, helplessness and embarrassment. While, there are many causes to phobias, genetic and environmental factors seems to play a greater role. The controversy lies here. Many people believe that phobias are developed at birth, whereas others believe is cause by their environment.

Phobias is an irrational fear. This means that if you have a phobia, you may experience a deep sense of dread or panic when you encounter the source of your fear. The fear can be of a certain place, situation, or object. What is significance here is that although phobias is a very known disorder, nobody knows if phobias are cause by one's environment or genes. For instance, children who have a closer relative with an anxiety disorder might have a higher risk of developing a phobia than others who are exposure to their fears later life. Or vice-versa. This gives people another reason to know what causes phobias because one's genes/or environment can play a higher risk of a person developing a phobia in their lifetime. Overall, phobias can make you unable to lead a health and normal life. Thus, being aware of the adverse causes of phobias, can make it better for you to understand ways to deal with the phobias.

To explain the causes of phobias, research information will be retrieved from scholarly articles, reports, and academic journals accessed through John Jay database. Articles retrieved from John Jay database such as “ Fears and phobias in children and adolescents,” explore how children are more prone to developed  phobias later in life. Conversely, other articles such as, “Can Phobias be Inherited Genetically,” retrieved from the same database, demonstrate how certain factors in the genes predispose individuals to phobias. In Addition, articles such as "Phobias: Inherited or Learned" would further examine the kinds of phobias that one’s development and learning. Such articles provide supporting details to the thesis, as they prove that whether phobias are cause by genetic/ or by one's environment. Thus, articles and journals are fundamental important for this research in order to develop a clear sense of understand of what really causes phobias. Lastly, I will set aside sources find from Research organization such as Mayo Clinic that better demonstrates the causes of phobias and the effects it can have on children and adults.

            The layout of the research will be organized by comprehensive broad information to more specific details. In order to explain the causes of phobias in an individual, it is necessary to first understand the subject. Therefore, the subject of the topic, phobias will be first discussed. Following the defining of phobias, where it is prevalent in will be discussed. After gaining an understanding of the topic, the paper will begin to explore the different types of phobias that people experience in their everyday lives. Then, the paper will explain whether phobias are passed down in families. Followed by if phobias is develop in one's environment. Finally, a small section will be devoted to explaining the effects of phobias and  ways to avoid the negative effects of phobias. Thereby, providing an analysis of how phobias is affected by our genes or environment allow us to understand better ways to help people who suffer from phobias.

 References

Cherry, K. (n.d.). Afraid of What? Check This List of Strange and Common Phobias. Retrieved March 23, 2017, from https://www.verywell.com/list-of-phobias-2795453

Decker, E. (2017, March 09) Can Phobias be Inherited Genetically? Retrieved March 24, 2017, from https://www.rewireme.com/insight/can-phobias-be-inherited-genetically/

De Jongh, A. D., Oosterink, F. M. D., Kieffer, J. M., Hoogstraten, J., & Aartman, I. H. A. (2011, Summer). The structure of common fears: comparing three different models. American Journal of Psychology, 124(2), 141+. Retrieved from http://ez.lib.jjay.cuny.edu/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&u=cuny_johnjay&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA361551996&asid=24c1685110e613b8cbfdccab24f1464f

Fourie, D. P. (2006). Treating phobias or treating people? Of acronyms and the social context. Health SA Gesondheid, 11(3), 41+. Retrieved from http://ez.lib.jjay.cuny.edu/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&u=cuny_johnjay&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA170582029&asid=85357ca2e5ebe12b16f0e3cabd2ad63d

Kohler, M., Christensen, L., & Kilgo, J. (2014). Fears and phobias in children and adolescents. Childhood Education, 90(5), 386+. Retrieved from http://ez.lib.jjay.cuny.edu/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&u=cuny_johnjay&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA384340493&asid=486cbaf85ee8a6d4b7e872b0aa88a7e1

McGill, N. (2015, May-June). Phobias: learning how to face your fears. The Nation's Health, 45(4), 24. Retrieved from http://ez.lib.jjay.cuny.edu/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&u=cuny_johnjay&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA414135394&asid=af7504ae419aedae33def21ae6597622

Phobias: Inherited or Learned ? (2014, September 10). Retrieved March 24, 2017, from http://www.sanskritimagazine.com/everyday-life-tips/phobias-inherited-learned/

Mayo Clinic Staff (n.d) Specific phobias. Retrieved March 24, 2017, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/specific-phobias/symptoms-causes/dxc-20253341