uals (about 3%–5%), possibly reflecting diminishing severity to subclinical levels. Females
are more frequently affected than males, at a rate of approximately 2:1, although rates vary
across different phobic stimuli. That is, animal, natural envi ronment, and situational spe-
cific phobias are predominantly experienced by females, whereas blood-injection-injury
phobia is experienced nearly equally by both genders. 
Development and Course