RETROSPECTIVE STUDIES OF THE ORIGINS OF PHOBIAS - A REVIEW

Studies using retrospective subject reports to investigate etiological models of fears and phobias are reviewed. It is argued that the research effort to date has been plagued by a multitude of methodological problems which bring into question the validity of the major findings. In particular, it is shown that most investigators have begun with the assumption that all phobias are indebted to some traumatic experience with the object or situation and, as a result of this assumption, have predisposed themselves to support learning-based accounts of phobia onset. Other problems, including the lack of demonstrations of adequate levels of inter-rater reliability, test-retest reliability and construct validity are also discussed. Finally, recommendations for future research are made.