Phobia and Counterphobia

Authors

Paul Hellweg

Abstract

Two wrongs are rumored to make things right, but do two phobias cancel each other out? For example, if a claustrophobe (one who fears closed spaces) were to become agoraphobic (fear of open spaces), would he be cured? Or would he simply have no place to go? Perhaps this is a fool's question, but the point is that a lot of phobias have direct opposites. (Not all phobias, however, have a counterpart. Many of us have ballistophobia - fear of being shot, but do you know anyone with a fear of not being shot?)

Recommended Citation

Hellweg, Paul (1985) "Phobia and Counterphobia," Word Ways: Vol. 18 : Iss. 2 , Article 4.
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/wordways/vol18/iss2/4