Don't Panic! Online Quiz | Psychological Disorders

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Whilst walking down the street your palms begin to sweat, you get short of breath and you feel dizzy. You look around you and see a bald man. You run into the nearest building to avoid him. Which phobia do you possibly have?

Answer: Peladophobia

The name peladophobia comes from the Spanish "pelada" meaning, among other things, having no hair. Some researchers feel that peladophobia stems from a person's own fear of going bald. In men this may stem from the mistaken belief that loss of hair equals loss of virility.

2. People with omphalophobia would have great difficulty going to the beach. What is their fear?

Answer: Belly buttons (Navel)

Omphalophobia gets its name from the Greek for navel, "omphalo". People with this phobia may exhibit a fear of their own navel, those of others or, quite commonly, both. Very little research has been done into this condition but it is believed to stem from a dislike of the person's own body part rather than that of others, which is common to most other phobias regarding the body. People with this phobia have mentioned the feeling of something pulling them from inside and the inability to clean the umbilicus thoroughly.

3. For people living in the countryside, alektorophobia can be a real problem. It can cause them to break out in a sweat, have panic attacks and feelings of nausea. What causes them to have such feelings?

Answer: Chickens

Alektorophobia may be linked to the way chickens feed (viz. off the ground scratching through the dirt), bringing on a fear of contamination. Others may feel a fear of being pecked. Any part of the bird can bring on this anxiety, including a feather or even an egg. Doctors believe alektorophobia is a result of a previous bad experience with chickens and not something that comes on abruptly; rather, it develops over time.

4. Some women may feel that certain men suffer from gamophobia. It can however affect both sexes. What is gamophobia the fear of?

Answer: Marriage

Gamophobia comes from "gamos", the Greek word for marriage. People with this condition can still make a lifelong commitment to another person, as long as marriage isn't part of the relationship. As with many phobias, it can be overcome with counseling and other therapies.

5. As you drive around you come across a funeral procession. Your heart begins to race and your palms start to sweat as you imagine your worst nightmare. You realise your taphophobia has surfaced again. What are you afraid of?

Answer: Being buried alive

The word comes from the Greek word "taphos", meaning grave. The Victorians suffered from this fear and many coffins, for those that could afford it, had a system whereby the occupant could ring a bell if they woke up. The Royal Humane Society was originally founded as 'Society for the Recovery of Persons Apparently Drowned'.

There are many stories, most urban legends, of coffins being opened years after internment to find the occupant had grown a beard or was lying with hands apparently pushing upwards or of scratch marks on the inside of the coffin lid. Edgar Allan Poe's stories 'The Premature Burial' and 'The Fall of the House of Usher' both deal with the subject.

6. A friend of yours that suffers from ouranophobia asks you for career advice. Based on his fears, which career would you advise him NOT to take?

Answer: Priesthood

Ouranophobia is the fear of heaven. It wouldn't be advisable for anyone suffering from this to consider a career with the church. It possibly comes from a dread of 'Judgment Day'. It can also be spelt "uranophobia"; this may come from the Roman god of the sky, Uranus.

7. This phobia may be suffered by more people than we think. Ex-US President Richard Nixon is thought to have had this fear. It is the fear of going into hospital. What is it?

Answer: Nosocomephobia

As with many terms, this one comes from the Greek - "nosokemeion", meaning hospital. In 1974 Richard Nixon suffered a blood clot and said "If I go into the hospital, I'll never come out alive".

8. Consecotaleophobia is classed as a specific fear. It is one relating to certain objects or situations. What location should you avoid if you suffered from consecotaleophobia?

Answer: Chinese restaurant

Consecotaleophobia is the fear of chopsticks. It is related to Sinophobia (fear of Chinese or the culture) and Japanophobia (fear of the Japanese). As with all phobias, the symptoms and treatment vary from person to person.

9. Most people know of triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13. But there is a related fear called paraskavedekatriaphobia. This, as with many phobias, has an alternate name. What is the other name?

Answer: Friggatriskaidekaphobia

Paraskavedekatriaphobia (from the Greek) and friggatriskaidekaphobia (from the Norse) are alternate names for a fear of Friday the 13th. Friggatriskaidekaphobia gets its name from Frigga, the Norse Goddess for whom Friday is named and the number 13 fear.

The Greek version is made up in a similar way. Some believe that the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th didn't appear until the 19th century, and that it's two older superstitions amalgamated into one. According to tradition, both superstitions are associated with the Bible. Thirteen was the number of people at The Last Supper and Jesus was crucified on a Friday.

10. There are several phobias connected, specifically, with the male penis. Which of the listed fears is NOT one of them?

Answer: Primeisodophobia

Primeisodophobia is the fear of losing one's virginity. Ithyphallophobia is a fear of seeing or having an erect penis. Medomalacuphobia is the fear of losing an erection. Phallophobia is a general fear of the organ. The closest equivalent to a fear of the female vagina is more of a myth than a phobia.

It is called vagina dentata. Several cultures use the myth that the vagina contains teeth to discourage rape and having liaisons with strange women.

Source: Author romeomikegolf

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Pagiedamon before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Don't Panic! Trivia Quiz

There is a phobia for just about anything. This quiz aims to explore some of the more unusual ones.

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>