What is a common symptom of phobias?

Phobias are characterized by an intense and irrational fear of specific objects or situations, leading to significant anxiety and avoidance behavior. The correct response reflects this core characteristic. Individuals with phobias often experience a strong urge to avoid the feared stimulus entirely, which can interfere with their daily lives and activities. This avoidance is a hallmark of phobic disorders; people will go to great lengths to stay away from the triggering object or situation to prevent experiencing anxiety.

The other responses do not align with the nature of phobias. A desire to confront fears would be more characteristic of exposure therapy or coping strategies used to manage anxiety, which runs counter to the typical behavior in phobic individuals. Feeling indifferent towards fears contradicts the very nature of phobias, as these individuals are particularly sensitive to their fears. Finally, experiencing anxiety in all situations does not accurately describe phobias. While anxiety disorders can manifest in various contexts, phobias are specifically tied to particular stimuli and typically do not lead to anxiety in non-related situations.