Do people choose their phobias?

Question

Okay stemming off of a post here that had a lot of talk about homophobia and biphobia. I had a thought. Can people choose their phobias? If someone has arachnophobia, can they ever just choose not to be afraid of spiders? Same with homophobia. Is it really a fear, like they can't get through the thought of it without having some type of anxiety or reaction like someone with arachnophobia would have if they saw a spider? Or is it something they choose to have because of personal prejudices? I know it's a stretch to compare the two (homophobia and arachnophobia), obviously, but I just thought it might start a good conversation on how we can all start to evaluate our beliefs and whether or not we can alter them by pure willpower. Or if they're just too engrained. 
(In my opinion I don't think someone can just choose to not be afraid of spiders, but I think someone can choose to be respectful to all lifestyles even if they do have homophobic thoughts. Can they change those thoughts though? What do you think?)

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As always, please keep this civil! Keep it mature, and avoid name calling.

Answer

Social phobias like biphobia, homophobia and transphobia are not phobias in the sense of having a fear response. Those are intolerances brought about by lack of education and exposure to harmful, bigoted messages.

Extreme fears and aversion phobias are conditioned. They are more that "being scared" of something. You cannot simply choose to not have a phobia, but treatments for phobias include mainly: flooding and systematic desensitisation.

Answer

Homophobia and biohobia are not fears they are prejudices. More akin to racism than arachnophobia. This isn't a discussion that can be had because these are two very different things.

Answer

I think they just like throwing those words around. Just because someone doesn't agree with said lifestyle DOES NOT mean they hate them automatically. People need to stop assuming and get the facts straight. I have a fear of Bald Eagles, not gays or bis or transgender. I don't like their lifestyle, true. But doesn't mean that I won't help them when needed, or will be disrespectful towards them. I don't like alcoholism or drug addicts either. No one's calling me an alcoholoiciphobe or a drugaphobe. Grow up. We are allowed to agree to disagree without acting stupid.

Answer

I think homophobia is stupid- by that I mean you're not scared of gay people, you just don't like gay. Phobia means scared/fear, and I don't know anyone who is legitimately scared/fear gay. I only know people who don't like gay. I just wouldn't classify it as a phobia, is all.

Answer

I would say no. I have a social phobia to some degree. With that being said, I never chose to have that. It happened from life experiences. I think it's the same for others.

Answer

Arachnophobia and other true phobias aren't a choice. However we can certainly choose to treat them. Various forms of connotative behavior therapy have shown to be particularly effective.

Homophobia and other internal biases are created by early learning experience and social messages. Everyone unconscious bias. They can be reinforced as we age, or we can choose to make a conscious decision to work through them.

Answer

It depends.

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Phobias are caused from early ages, some stem from parents behaviour towards something and some stem from bad experiences.  So no they are not caused by ourselves at all

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My mom told me i used to have night terrors all the time when i was younger and i woulf scream bloody murder about there being spiders all over my bedroom and on me. Thus, i have a very intense fear of spiders.

Answer

No actual phobias are not a choice, if I could choose not to have a panic attack when body pinned or strapped down in some way I would. Sex is no fun when you have an anxiety attack because you SO puts to much body weight on you.

Do people choose their phobias?

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