Cynophobia is a somewhat common phobia that can develop for a number of reasons:
- Genetic predisposition to anxiety;
- Traumatic experience involving dogs;
- Learned behavior from a friend or family member.
There is also a possibility of developing cynophobia without traumatic experiences involving dogs. If a person went through repeated negative experiences with dogs, they can easily develop cynophobia.
Research indicates that the fear response of the brain plays a large role in the development of cynophobia. Patients with this phobia tend to show a heightened amygdala activity (which is the brain region responsible for processing fear) when exposed to dog-related stimuli. This neurological component can explain why some individuals can still develop intense fears even with absolutely no history of dog attacks in the first place.