Fears and Phobias Worksheets

Answer Keys Here

Fear is an emotion that causes us to be very careful and/or concerned about that which we are fearing. Fear is something that is automatically built into each of us. This is a good thing because it can often protect us from our immediately environment and can keep us out of or help us avoid dangerous situations. It is very normal for us to be afraid of all types of things. A phobia goes a step further and can be an extreme or even paralyzing form of fear of something a situation that just never goes away. Phobias can often result in people having crippling panic attacks. The most common form is social phobia which is the fear of being embarrassed in the presence of other people. This series of worksheets will help students learn about common fears and phobias that people have and how they can be treated.

Fears and Phobias Worksheets To Print:

Common Phobias - The word comes from the Greek term phobos, meaning fear or extra horror. A phobia is an irrational fear of something that probably is not actually going to hurt you.

What Are The Types? - According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), there are five general categories of phobias. Analyze all of the the fears that are presented and classify them under this hiearchy.

What Is Their Aliment? - Look at each of the picture and pick the best that matches based on your understanding.

Column Madness - Look at what is presented to you and classify it as needed.

Matching - Match the two colums to the best of your ability. If you are stumped grab a search engine.

Sentence Fills - Use all the terms that are in front of you to complete all of these sentences.

Drawing Definitions - Define each box by drawing a picture of what people suffering from each term that is fully described.

1,000 Words - If that is how many words are equal to each picture, you have your hands full here.

Name It! - You are not given any prompts. This worksheet may require an extra bit of research.

Deconstructing Everything - Start by breaking it down to the root and then look for meaning in all the terms.

Crazy Research - Research to find the official name of each of these well documented phobias.

Shape for Meaning - Take your your time and pick between the two choices that are presented.

What Am I Afraid Of? - Take your time and put your inner artist into the effort that may be needed to portray these described phobias.

Where Do I Stand? - What makes you the most uncomfortable? Rank each item from 1 (least uncomfortable) to 10 (most uncomfortable). Then research to find the technical term (ending in “phobia) for each fear. Write it on the line.

Callouts - This is something that you may want to present to your students after a basic introduction.

How To Spot Fears (Phobias) in Literature?

Since the beginning of documented literature, writers across the globe have produced ample amounts of work on different fears and phobias. Like love, sex, and romance, death, misery, and pain have received a similar appreciation from a diverse group of global critics and readers.

Reading literature that explores different fears and phobias allows a reader to experience thrill, adrenaline rush, and goosebumps without actually having to be in the situation. According to researchers, reading about eerie and scary subjects tends to produce a sense of euphoria and achievement.

Moreover, readers tend to enjoy the cathartic happy ending that usually comes at the end of a scary novel or story. Continue reading below to learn about the top five fears and phobias explored in literature.

Common Fears and Phobias Explored in Literature


Death

The fear of death is a universal phobia that haunts everyone regardless of their age, gender, race, or status. This is why literature about death and the fear of death is relatable for all kinds of audiences. Almost all great authors have explored death and the fear of losing one’s life in their work.

Some notable names of authors whose work stands out for its dark literature include Shakespeare, John Keats, Stephen King, Virginia Wolf, etc.


Survival and Physical Pain

One of the oldest instincts that have been carried onto the current generation from our earliest ancestors is the instinct to survive. Our bodies and their mechanisms are designed to help us deal with trauma, food deprivation, and physical pain just to ensure our survival.

Hence, writers from the very beginning have developed stories and novels surrounding a character’s physical suffering and their will to survive. This subject is widely read for its relatability and realism.


Causing Someone's Death


Being the reason behind someone’s death is a subject that can haunt people of any age. Whether the death is caused due to an accident, murder, or negligence, human beings fear being responsible for someone’s demise.


Globally acclaimed authors like Shakespeare, Tom Hardy, Gillian Flynn, etc., have all produced a lot of work on this subject.


Scandal and Stained Reputation

Most humans spend a significant time of their life trying to please society to fit in. One of our greatest fears is to have our years of efforts wasted and our reputation stained. Hence, writers have explored the general public’s phobia of being tainted by a scandal or having their reputation stained to keep us fully engrossed.


Final Thoughts

Although human beings fear death, murder, deprivation, and scandals, they thoroughly enjoy reading about them in literature to experience a thrilling adrenaline rush. This is why writers across the globe have written about such topics and have been applauded by critics for their work.