A review of the phenomenology, aetiology and treatment of animal phobia and insights for biophobia.

Published online
09 Sep 2024
Content type
Journal article
Journal title
People and Nature
DOI
10.1002/pan3.10514

Author(s)
Norberg, M. M. & Visvalingam, S. & Stevenson, R. J. & Saluja, S.
Contact email(s)
melissa.norberg@mq.edu.au

Publication language
English

Abstract

Biophobia refers to a fear of living things, which leads to alienation from nature. The literature examining the underlying mechanisms and treatment of biophobia is sparse. This review aims to increase the readers' understanding of biophobia by examining the more extensive literature on specific phobias, namely animal phobia, as it most closely resembles biophobia. Fear, anxiety and disgust play an important role in specific phobias. Their triggers and functions are reviewed in the context of animal phobia. Theoretical models for specific phobias suggest that phobias develop because genetically linked behavioural patterns interact with normal development fears and environmental factors. Phobias are then maintained by cognitive and behavioural mechanisms. Exposure therapy, the gold standard treatment for specific phobia, functions to override the maladaptive stimulus-stimulus and stimulus-response associations responsible for animal and other specific phobias. Its delivery and efficacy are reviewed. We recommend that readers interested in biophobia use the existing knowledge on animal phobia and specific phobia in general to treat biophobia and generate research hypotheses for future study.

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