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AbstractPrevious studies showed discrepant findings regarding the factor structure of common fears.The purpose of the present study was to expand on these findings and to contribute to the development of a descriptive framework for a fear classification. Using data from the Dutch general population (n=961; 50.9% women), an exploratory factor analysis was performed to delineate the multidimensional structure of 11 common fears previously used in a factoranalytic study by Fredrikson, Annas, Fischer, & Wik (1996). A second, independent sample (n=998; 48.3% women) was used to confirm the newly derived model by means of confirmatory factor analysis. In addition, the model was tested against the DSM-IV-TR model, and a model found earlier by Fredrikson et al. (1996). Although support was found for a 3-factor solution consisting of a blood-injection-injury factor, a situational-animal factor and a heights-related factor, confirmatory factor analysis showed that this 3-factor model and the DSM-IV-TR 4-factor model fitted the data equally well. The findings suggest that the structure of subclinical fears can be inferred from the DSM-classification of phobia subtypes, and that fears and phobias are two observable manifestations of a fear response along a continuum.