Alfred suffers from an extreme and irrational fear of spiders.His fear is exaggerated and disproportionate to the actual danger he might be in if he did encounter a spider.Alfred's fear of spiders is so intense that he would go to almost any length to avoid coming into contact with them.Alfred is most likely to be diagnosed with which of the following disorders?

A) specific phobia
B) generalized anxiety disorder
C) social anxiety disorder
D) post-traumatic stress disorder

Alfred's symptoms are characteristic of a specific phobia, which involves an excessive and irrational fear of a particular object or situation. This fear is often out of proportion to the actual danger posed by the object or situation, and can cause significant distress and impairment in daily life. The fear is also persistent and enduring, even in the absence of the phobic object or situation. None of the other options mentioned (generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder) fit the specific symptoms described.