Harpaxophobia (fear Of Being Robbed): Symptoms, Causes And Treatment
Harpaxophobia is the persistent fear of thieves This is a circumstance that, when classified as a phobia, implies the possibility that the assault experience causes irrational fear. But can this be considered an unjustified fear? Is it a specific phobia or is it rather an experience that accompanies more complex social discomforts?
We will see below how harpaxophobia can be defined and what elements accompany it.
The term “harpaxophobia” is derived from the Latin “harpax” which means “thief” or “one who steals”; and also from the Greek word “phobos” which means fear. Thus, harpaxophobia is the persistent and intense fear of thieves, as well as of experiencing a robbery.
It would be a fear that is activated by a specific stimulus: the possibility of someone around us stealing something from us But, for someone to be able to carry out this act, it is necessary that the circumstances allow it: in principle it must be in a place where the theft can go unnoticed (a very lonely space, or a space with a large number of people).
On the other hand, many thefts, although committed by a single person, may be covered or supported by several other people. If, in addition to this, it is a moment in which our attention is dispersed or focused on a specific activity, or, we find ourselves in a significant situation of defenselessness regarding possible aggressors the whole circumstance turns in favor of representing a potential risk to our belongings or our physical integrity.
That said, we can see that harpaxophobia is not only the fear of a person stealing from us, but of an entire circumstance that involves the real or perceived possibility of suffering an assault or direct aggression. Several elements are mixed in this, which have to do with our previous direct or indirect experiences of violence, our imaginations about who may be potential aggressors, our difficulties in functioning in certain public spaces, among others.
In this sense, harpaxophobia could be classified as a specific phobia of a situational type, following the criteria of specific phobia manuals. However, harpaxophobia has not been studied or considered as such by experts in psychology and psychopathology. This may be because, far from being a disorder, the persistent and intense fear of assault is rather a superadaptive response generated by constant exposure to violence, either directly or indirectly.
Main symptoms of specific phobias
The main symptoms of specific phobias are caused by the activation of the autonomic nervous system, which acts in the presence of a stimulus perceived as harmful. This system is responsible for regulating our involuntary motor responses, which prepares us to avoid possible harm, whether by fleeing, hiding, exercising physical resistance, among others.
We thus generate a series of physiological reactions. For example, the increase in the speed of palpitations, hyperventilation, sweating, decreased digestive activity, among other. All this while we process information about the threatening event at high speed. The latter constitutes the typical picture of anxiety, and in cases of greater exposure to the stimulus, it can transform into a panic attack, which is more common in specific situational phobias.
For its part, the level of anxiety experienced depends largely on the stimulus that causes the phobia. That is, it depends on the degree of danger it represents, as well as the safety signals that the stimulus itself can offer.
In the case of harpaxophobia, the experience of anxiety can increase significantly in contexts where the probability of suffering an assault is higher (passing down a dark street alone, carrying a significant amount of money or items of high economic value). , going through a neighborhood that is generally conflictive or too touristy, etc.).
To the latter are added other elements, such as the person’s mood (which can lead to increased susceptibility), and the perceived possibilities of fleeing or receiving help if necessary.
Possible causes
Specific phobias are acquired experiences, which means that they are generated by associations constantly reinforced about a stimulus and the dangers related to this Three of the most popular explanatory models for these associations are classical conditioning, vicarious learning, and information transmission.
Likewise, three of the most important elements for the consolidation of a specific phobia are the following (Bados, 2005):
In this sense, harpaxophobia can develop due to direct or indirect exposure to violence. That is, after having been assaulted, or having witnessed one, or knowing someone who has suffered it. The latter can easily translate into a constant feeling of threat, generating avoidance behaviors towards places that represent a risk, as well as defensive behaviors to prevent assaults, especially in places that have high crime rates.
Thus, this can hardly be defined as a disproportionate response, given that the stimulus that provokes it (a robbery) is potentially harmful to physical and emotional integrity, therefore, avoidant behaviors and the anxiety response are rather a set of adaptive and proportional responses to the stimulus
If these responses become generalized and prevent the person from carrying out their daily activities regularly, or negatively impact their interpersonal relationships, or cause an experience of generalized anxiety, then it may not be harpaxophobia, but rather an experience of more complex discomfort. For example, an experience related to social interactions or open spaces, and of which fear of thieves is only a part.
Treatment
Once the above has been explored and determined, there are different emotional support strategies that can be used to reduce prolonged and intense experiences of anxiety
The latter will not necessarily remove the fear of thieves, as this could be counterproductive, but they can minimize deeper fears (such as certain social interactions), and at the same time maintain self-care strategies. In these cases, it is advisable to go to psychotherapy to learn to manage stress levels and regain autonomy.
