Download file Aviophobia

Aviophobia refers to the pathological fear of flying. It is one of the most common specific phobias: an estimated 10–25% of the population feels uncomfortable on an airplane, and 2–5% suffer from a clinically significant phobia that makes flying impossible. This fear stems from various sources: loss of control (one cannot leave or control the aircraft), fear of heights, claustrophobia, fear of a crash, or—from a depth psychological perspective—a general fear of death. Cognitively, most affected individuals know that flying is statistically the safest mode of transportation—yet this knowledge does not alleviate the fear. As a special theme, aviophobia offers an ideal isolation in literature: A character on a plane cannot escape, cannot call for help, cannot control the situation. The plane becomes a trap. At the same time, a main character’s aviophobia is a character trait with conflict potential—the investigator who cannot fly but must; the therapist who accompanies her patient and breaks down herself in the process. The phobia serves as both a backdrop and a character flaw.