Definition and Uses
- See nonclinical uses of "phobia" and prejudices described as phobias.
The most usual use of the term "chemophobia" is analogous to "homophobia"—a prejudice against something rather than an irrational fear. In this sense, chemophobia is akin to technophobia.
Some define chemophobia as a specific phobia but most mainstream sources such as the Oxford Dictionary of Psychology do not recognize chemophobia as a psychological condition. Websites that use the specific phobia definition typically sell cures for a very wide range of specific phobias and seem to include "chemophobia" simply to enlarge the range of conditions they claim to treat.
Another definition of chemophobia is that it is a concern about learning chemistry as an academic subject.
Read more about this topic: Chemophobia
Famous quotes containing the word definition:
“Although there is no universal agreement as to a definition of life, its biological manifestations are generally considered to be organization, metabolism, growth, irritability, adaptation, and reproduction.”
—The Columbia Encyclopedia, Fifth Edition, the first sentence of the article on “life” (based on wording in the First Edition, 1935)