Is it possible not to have any phobias?

**Night Runner** · 08-19-2009, 11:53 PM

After reading the 9-page-long
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, I'm a bit disturbed by the fact that only three posters claimed not to have any phobias. I always thought (or at least suspected) that not having phobias was another INTJ attribute. Maybe it's just me?..

Like I said, I have no phobias. I spent quite a while trying to think of something - anything - I fear and I keep coming up with nothing. I'm fine with needles, I've got nothing against bugs and arachnids, I actually like heights and find darkness fascinating, et cetera... People's dogs usually go crazy when I approach them and it used to concern me in the past (their reaction - not the dogs themselves) but I've learned to live with it, and I think that's about as close as I ever came to having a phobia.

If I had to guess, I'd say my lack of phobias was caused by my ... interesting childhood and the "shell" I developed as a result. It may have something to do with the fact that I don't really have any passions, either. Could be two sides of the same coin. I don't want to give you the wrong impression - I'm not a nihilistic daredevil desperado with a deathwish. On the outside, I'm virtually indistinguishable from other, phobia-prone people.

So, is anybody here also devoid of phobias? If so, do you know why you are this way? Or is it just me?..
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**Vagrant** · 08-20-2009, 12:13 AM

Depends on how you define "phobia."

I really don't like my shoulder dislocating, so I do what I can to prevent it. But that's because it happens often (like once a month). I also don't like injuries, but have accepted it thanks to skateboarding.

I generally don't like seeing black widows -- I'll smash them given the chance. Same for brown banded roaches, but for a different reason. I work in a lab that deals with ants and normal roaches all the time, so they don't bother me.

So if you define phobia as an irrational fear, then I have no phobias. If you define phobia as a strong fear, I may have a few phobias.

**Ither** · 08-20-2009, 12:19 AM

Since phobias are defined to be irrational, they are universal. Restraining them is not.

**smashy** · 08-20-2009, 12:39 AM

Originally Posted by Night Runner
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After reading the 9-page-long
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
, I'm a bit disturbed by the fact that only three posters claimed not to have any phobias. I always thought (or at least suspected) that not having phobias was another INTJ attribute. Maybe it's just me?..

Like I said, I have no phobias. I spent quite a while trying to think of something - anything - I fear and I keep coming up with nothing. I'm fine with needles, I've got nothing against bugs and arachnids, I actually like heights and find darkness fascinating, et cetera... People's dogs usually go crazy when I approach them and it used to concern me in the past (their reaction - not the dogs themselves) but I've learned to live with it, and I think that's about as close as I ever came to having a phobia.

If I had to guess, I'd say my lack of phobias was caused by my ... interesting childhood and the "shell" I developed as a result. It may have something to do with the fact that I don't really have any passions, either. Could be two sides of the same coin. I don't want to give you the wrong impression - I'm not a nihilistic daredevil desperado with a deathwish. On the outside, I'm virtually indistinguishable from other, phobia-prone people.

So, is anybody here also devoid of phobias? If so, do you know why you are this way? Or is it just me?..
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I don't have irrational phobias. I don't like heights but that's a rational thing. The only thing
that maybe can look like a phobia and it's a bit irrational is the sound of helicopters. I get really anxious and nervous when there's a helicopter flying by. I use to joke and say that in a past life I was a jew that lived during the II World War and was hidden in a house while helicopters were flying by looking for me and my family. That's because I can't explain the anxiety I feel when I hear helicopter noise. Maybe it's a phobia.

**Zilal** · 08-20-2009, 08:47 AM

I don't have any phobias. I'm just not terribly likely to post on a thread about phobias just to say that I don't have any.

**Prunesquallor** · 08-20-2009, 09:01 AM

I haven't any. There are things I'm afraid of, sometimes, but never to the level of phobia.

ahem, touch wood.

**CaptainA** · 08-20-2009, 09:33 AM

Count another into the "No Phobias" group. And as others I base this on the word irrational. In truth there is very little I am actually "scared" of either. I believe that in part it is one of my INTJ characteristics, in that I research everything. Once I understand something it is no longer a problem. I have been in several life threatening situations which should have been scary, but I just became rational and found a way out of it. Some of these would be situations that those with phobias would not be in in any case, for example Scuba diving.

**Corvidophile** · 08-20-2009, 12:02 PM

I experience irrational fear when I'm in certain situations, but it's fleeting. Anything that could possibly cost me my life (including crazy barking dogs) will cause a twinge of fear or anxiety, but not so much that I'd avoid dogs.

**SelfMadeBum** · 08-20-2009, 12:42 PM

I can't think of anything I'm irrationally afraid of.

**Jgib5328** · 08-21-2009, 04:13 PM

Seriously, I'm sick of all these types of threads, I'm pretty sure whether you have a phobia or not is independent of your MBTI type. I'm sick of people thinking that MBTI is the be all end all and everything in life is contingent on it. Looking at one thread where people self-diagnose themselves is meaningless data, and the fact that it's all or mostly INTJs is probably meaningless.

Phobias aren't cut & dry. You personally define irrationality, so there is no objective way of deciding whether or not you have a phobia simply based off of definition. I sort of freak out when I see bugs, but what does sort of mean? My 'sort of' could be completely different from your 'sort of' and my 'freak out' could be completely different from your 'freak out'.

Also, I'm pretty sure what's commonly considered a phobia is pretty uncommon, so you not having a phobia isn't all too special, unless you mean phobia being significant fear of something.

**Night Runner** · 08-21-2009, 04:42 PM

	Originally Posted by Jgib5328 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Also, I'm pretty sure what's commonly considered a phobia is pretty uncommon, so you not having a phobia isn't all too special, unless you mean phobia being significant fear of something.

That, too. Completely fear- or concern-free...

**Muadib** · 08-22-2009, 09:35 AM

I am not irrationally afraid of anything. On the rational side I am afraid of many things, but I deal with it soldier on and keep going. I mean I volunteered to get shot at for the rest of my life, didnt I?

**Kmal** · 08-22-2009, 09:53 AM

Not having a phobia is perfectly "normal." It is an irrational fear. A rational fear is quite common though.

**biohazard** · 08-24-2009, 09:30 PM

No phobias here. There are things I don't like (including heights and really deep water - since you don't know what lies underneath) but I have no problem pulling myself together and getting over it.

08-19-2009, 11:53 PM	#1
Night Runner Core Member [148%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,931	After reading the 9-page-long To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. , I'm a bit disturbed by the fact that only three posters claimed not to have any phobias. I always thought (or at least suspected) that not having phobias was another INTJ attribute. Maybe it's just me?.. Like I said, I have no phobias. I spent quite a while trying to think of something - anything - I fear and I keep coming up with nothing. I'm fine with needles, I've got nothing against bugs and arachnids, I actually like heights and find darkness fascinating, et cetera... People's dogs usually go crazy when I approach them and it used to concern me in the past (their reaction - not the dogs themselves) but I've learned to live with it, and I think that's about as close as I ever came to having a phobia. If I had to guess, I'd say my lack of phobias was caused by my ... interesting childhood and the "shell" I developed as a result. It may have something to do with the fact that I don't really have any passions, either. Could be two sides of the same coin. I don't want to give you the wrong impression - I'm not a nihilistic daredevil desperado with a deathwish. On the outside, I'm virtually indistinguishable from other, phobia-prone people. So, is anybody here also devoid of phobias? If so, do you know why you are this way? Or is it just me?.. To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
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08-20-2009, 12:13 AM	#2
Vagrant Core Member [155%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 6,232	Depends on how you define "phobia." I really don't like my shoulder dislocating, so I do what I can to prevent it. But that's because it happens often (like once a month). I also don't like injuries, but have accepted it thanks to skateboarding. I generally don't like seeing black widows -- I'll smash them given the chance. Same for brown banded roaches, but for a different reason. I work in a lab that deals with ants and normal roaches all the time, so they don't bother me. So if you define phobia as an irrational fear, then I have no phobias. If you define phobia as a strong fear, I may have a few phobias.
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08-20-2009, 12:19 AM	#3
Ither Member [19%] MBTI: INTx Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 774	Since phobias are defined to be irrational, they are universal. Restraining them is not.
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08-20-2009, 08:47 AM	#5
Zilal Member [23%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 949	I don't have any phobias. I'm just not terribly likely to post on a thread about phobias just to say that I don't have any.
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08-20-2009, 09:01 AM	#6
Prunesquallor Veteran Member [66%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2,647	I haven't any. There are things I'm afraid of, sometimes, but never to the level of phobia. ahem, touch wood.
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08-20-2009, 09:33 AM	#7
CaptainA Member [16%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 670	Count another into the "No Phobias" group. And as others I base this on the word irrational. In truth there is very little I am actually "scared" of either. I believe that in part it is one of my INTJ characteristics, in that I research everything. Once I understand something it is no longer a problem. I have been in several life threatening situations which should have been scary, but I just became rational and found a way out of it. Some of these would be situations that those with phobias would not be in in any case, for example Scuba diving.
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08-20-2009, 12:02 PM	#8
Corvidophile New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 63	I experience irrational fear when I'm in certain situations, but it's fleeting. Anything that could possibly cost me my life (including crazy barking dogs) will cause a twinge of fear or anxiety, but not so much that I'd avoid dogs.
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08-20-2009, 12:42 PM	#9
SelfMadeBum Core Member [513%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 20,532	I can't think of anything I'm irrationally afraid of.
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08-21-2009, 04:13 PM	#10
Jgib5328 Member [47%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,896	Seriously, I'm sick of all these types of threads, I'm pretty sure whether you have a phobia or not is independent of your MBTI type. I'm sick of people thinking that MBTI is the be all end all and everything in life is contingent on it. Looking at one thread where people self-diagnose themselves is meaningless data, and the fact that it's all or mostly INTJs is probably meaningless. Phobias aren't cut & dry. You personally define irrationality, so there is no objective way of deciding whether or not you have a phobia simply based off of definition. I sort of freak out when I see bugs, but what does sort of mean? My 'sort of' could be completely different from your 'sort of' and my 'freak out' could be completely different from your 'freak out'. Also, I'm pretty sure what's commonly considered a phobia is pretty uncommon, so you not having a phobia isn't all too special, unless you mean phobia being significant fear of something.
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08-22-2009, 09:35 AM	#12
Muadib Member [06%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 269	I am not irrationally afraid of anything. On the rational side I am afraid of many things, but I deal with it soldier on and keep going. I mean I volunteered to get shot at for the rest of my life, didnt I?
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08-22-2009, 09:53 AM	#13
Kmal Veteran Member [60%] MBTI: INFJ Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,413	Not having a phobia is perfectly "normal." It is an irrational fear. A rational fear is quite common though.
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08-24-2009, 09:30 PM	#14
biohazard New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4	No phobias here. There are things I don't like (including heights and really deep water - since you don't know what lies underneath) but I have no problem pulling myself together and getting over it.
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