Fear of Intelligence: No Specific Phobia Exists

There is no recognized specific phobia of intelligence in diagnostic manuals (DSM-5-TR, ICD-11).

Related Concepts

• Intellectophobia / sophophobia: Rarely used terms for fear of learning/knowledge; not formal diagnoses.
• Social anxiety: Fear of negative evaluation in intellectual settings.
• Imposter phenomenon: Internal fear of being exposed as inadequate despite competence.
• Anti-intellectualism: Societal/cultural devaluation of expertise — not a phobia.

Phobia Criteria

A specific phobia requires: marked fear/anxiety about a specific object/situation, immediate response, avoidance, disproportion to danger, ≥6 months, functional impairment.

If anxiety about intellectual situations impairs functioning, a clinician can assess for social anxiety, generalized anxiety, or other conditions.