Definition

Noun: A morbid or irrational fear of developing a phobia. It is an anxiety disorder characterized by the persistent dread of experiencing fear itself or of acquiring new specific phobias.

Usage

This is a highly specific clinical term used primarily in psychology and psychiatry. It describes a condition where the primary fear is the fear of fear, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of anxiety. It is not used in everyday conversation.

Examples

• The patient's phobophobia manifested as a constant worry that any new experience might trigger an uncontrollable phobic reaction.
• In his research paper, the psychologist described a case where phobophobia complicated the treatment of the patient's primary anxiety disorder.
• The very concept of phobophobia can be difficult to grasp, as it involves fearing the emotional state of fear.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical Context: The term is used to classify a specific type of anxiety disorder within diagnostic frameworks. It is often discussed in the context of the fear of fear cycle, where the anticipation of anxiety itself generates more anxiety.
• Metaphorical Use: Rarely, it can be used metaphorically in academic or literary discussions to describe an extreme aversion to developing any form of dread or aversion. For example: "The author's phobophobia regarding literary genres led him to create a uniquely uncategorizable style."

Variants and Related Words

• Phobia (n): An extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something. This is the root word and the object of the fear in phobophobia.
• Phobic (adj): Having or relating to an extreme or irrational fear.
• Anxiety Disorder (n): A broader category of mental disorders characterized by significant feelings of anxiety and fear, under which specific phobias and phobophobia are classified.

Synonyms

• Fear of fear (This is a descriptive phrase, not a clinical synonym.)
• Anxiety about anxiety (A descriptive phrase for the core concept.)

Notes on Meaning

This word represents a specific, recursive concept in psychopathology. The fear (phobia) is directed at the possibility of having future fears (phobias). It is an example of a meta-phobia.

Noun

1. a morbid fear of developing a phobia