CYNOPHOBIA Meaning and
Definition
-
Cynophobia is a noun that refers to an intense and irrational fear or aversion towards dogs. Derived from the Greek word “κύων” (kýōn) meaning dog and “φοβία” (phobía) meaning fear, cynophobia is classified as a specific phobia, falling under the category of animal phobias, zoophobia.
Individuals suffering from cynophobia often experience extreme anxiety and panic attacks when in close proximity to dogs or even at the mere thought of encountering them. This fear may be triggered by past traumatic experiences involving dogs, such as an aggressive dog bite, or it could develop without any apparent cause. Symptoms of cynophobia can manifest as increased heart rate, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, nausea, or a strong desire to flee.
Cynophobia can significantly impact an individual's daily life, limiting their activities and causing immense distress. Recurring avoidance of places or situations that might involve dogs is often observed, leading to social isolation or difficulty in forming relationships with dog owners.
Treatment for cynophobia usually involves cognitive-behavioral therapy, specifically exposure therapy, which gradually exposes the individual to their fear under controlled conditions to alleviate anxiety. Medications such as anti-anxiety drugs or beta blockers may also be prescribed in more severe cases.
It is important to differentiate cynophobia from a general dislike or wariness of dogs, as the fear associated with cynophobia tends to be disproportionate and can interfere with one's quality of life.
-
1. Extreme aversion to, or unreasonable fear of, dogs. 2. Lyssophobia.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for CYNOPHOBIA
- xynophobia
- vynophobia
- fynophobia
- dynophobia
- ctnophobia
- cgnophobia
- chnophobia
- cunophobia
- c7nophobia
- c6nophobia
- cybophobia
- cymophobia
- cyjophobia
- cyhophobia
- cyniphobia
- cynkphobia
- cynlphobia
- cynpphobia
- cyn0phobia
Etymology of CYNOPHOBIA
The word "cynophobia" is derived from the combination of two ancient Greek words: "kynos", meaning dog, and "phobos", meaning fear. Thus, "cynophobia" literally translates to "fear of dogs" in Greek.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
