What are excessive or irrational fears of specific objects or situations called?

Excessive or irrational fears of specific objects or situations are referred to as phobias. Phobias are characterized by intense, overwhelming feelings of fear or anxiety that are disproportionate to the actual threat posed by the feared object or situation. For example, someone with a phobia of spiders may experience severe distress even when thinking about, or seeing, a harmless spider, which indicates that the fear is irrational.

In contrast, anxieties are more generalized feelings of unease or worry that may not be linked to a specific object or situation. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rigid rules, often aimed at reducing anxiety. Obsessions are intrusive and unwanted thoughts or images that cause significant anxiety or distress. Each of these terms relates to anxiety disorders but has distinct definitions and implications.