The phobias of diverse objects and diverse situations, as the professional phobias, mysophobias, agoraphobias, erythrophobias, etc., are at bottom phobias of actions which are provoked or called forth by these objects and these situations. Cases beginning with "meticulous habits of verification," in the end manifest fear for the objects or situations related to the activities. The "mania" becomes a phobia, both of which involve fear in the domain of executive action. Analogous is the "reversal of sentiments" in which for the action desired there is an apparently irresistible impulse to do the opposite action (Cf. the negativism of schizophrenia). In normal activity, sufficient and even superabundant energy is mobilized; unexpended energies enhance the sense of ultimate achievement, the sentiment of triumph and the joy accompanying well performed action. The available energy may be just sufficient when the performance is boring, without "passion of accomplishment." If the disposable energies are insufficient, the activity will take on distinctive features, lacking reflective and rational intermediaries, and possibly "under the form of a mere perception or reflex action." Accordingly in disturbances of the type under consideration, one is "always concerned with mere depressions of activity, more or less profound, either involving the mind as a whole, or bearing down upon some one tendency or group of tendencies. The energy of performance being diminished the process of activation can no longer attain the superior forms of behavior such fears are manifested only when the subject is seeking to energize his performance under its higher form; thus, acting at a level of expenditure too costly for his budget of available resources." From Psych Bulletin 19:05:00349. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)