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I've always wondered what causes Arachnophobia
- Thread starter MosquitoSmasher
- Start date
I'm more afraid of big moths than spiders, and I have no rationale behind it other than they move super quickly and sporadically and unpredictably and fly into me and my face all the time.
I've been working on getting over it just because it's a little silly to be so afraid of them, which usually involves sitting calming outside at night in the summer on my porch with the light on.
Most fast moving bugs can make me jump though.
I like knowing that there are spiders around trapping, eating, and killing, the rest of the bugs that I so strongly dislike.
I've been working on getting over it just because it's a little silly to be so afraid of them, which usually involves sitting calming outside at night in the summer on my porch with the light on.
Most fast moving bugs can make me jump though.
I like knowing that there are spiders around trapping, eating, and killing, the rest of the bugs that I so strongly dislike.
ThoseDeafMutes
Member
Arachnophobia is acquired at some point in your life, however there is research suggesting that humans are primed to become afraid of spiders. The reason people suspect this is because humans appear to acquire the fear of spiders (and a few other types of natural threats that we evolved alongside) extremely easily, it's extremely widespread (the most common specific phobia, in fact), and it's one of the more difficult specific phobias to overcome. If you compare fear of spiders or snakes (two of the most common) to fear of cars or electrical sockets, both far more deadly to humans per capita in the modern world, it becomes apparent that the intellectual evaluation if a threat is only a small component of acquiring a fear of it. The visceral reaction you get to something is a larger component - think again about two more extremely common specific phobias, heights and flying, in comparison to the general lack of fear with many other far more dangerous situations in real life.
At least, that's what I was yammering on about in my lit review a few years back.
At least, that's what I was yammering on about in my lit review a few years back.
FIREKNIGHT2029
Member
Dont play Farpoint on PSVR OP, it will probably make you scream and pass out with fear 😂.
Im not scared of spiders to be honest. I see them as helpful creatures since they get rid of pests and bugs. I dont usually pick them up though because some of them like the Brown Recluse have really poisonous bites. I just leave them alone when I see them or take them outside when I feel like they are becoming pesky with too many webs. My parents bought me a toy tarantula spider when I was a kid and I think that sort of disensitized me. I dont like Tarantulas though because I think they are ugly and their hairs gross me out but at the same time I dont want to kill them either.
😋 Some spiders can look cute....
Im not scared of spiders to be honest. I see them as helpful creatures since they get rid of pests and bugs. I dont usually pick them up though because some of them like the Brown Recluse have really poisonous bites. I just leave them alone when I see them or take them outside when I feel like they are becoming pesky with too many webs. My parents bought me a toy tarantula spider when I was a kid and I think that sort of disensitized me. I dont like Tarantulas though because I think they are ugly and their hairs gross me out but at the same time I dont want to kill them either.
😋 Some spiders can look cute....
Hazelhurst
Member
jumping spiders are all cute, kinda like those fluffy type moths are cute even though normal ones look kinda gross
theres always exceptions to things
anyway im trying to get over my fear of spiders and snakes, so far i have actually removed both of them from indoors successfully so i think i am doing pretty good
also they make great monster girls
theres always exceptions to things
anyway im trying to get over my fear of spiders and snakes, so far i have actually removed both of them from indoors successfully so i think i am doing pretty good
also they make great monster girls
MHWilliams
Member
Had a run-in with a banana spider as a young child. Had soft Arachnophobia ever since.
Freeza Under The Shower
Member
I've seen a video a while back (last year or so) where the claim was that the fear is actually created by post-hoc memory creation. If the memory gets tied to an emotion of fear, the next sighting is one of fear, but if the two are separated the fear response seems to disappear (or at least for a bit and to some degree).
googled for it, and got this article:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...iders-in-2-minutes-could-they-also-cure-ptsd/
That title is more clickbaity than it should be though. It's more of a viable research route into treating symptoms, not complete rehabilitation.
googled for it, and got this article:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...iders-in-2-minutes-could-they-also-cure-ptsd/
That title is more clickbaity than it should be though. It's more of a viable research route into treating symptoms, not complete rehabilitation.
LordKasual
Banned
OP, i currently poke people in their veins for a living.
Needles are like spiders are like snakes. There's some natural, instinctual reason we hate them, probably like cats and plastic bags.
i've literally had someone have a panic attack in the chair drawing a few tubes of blood. My sister is the same way with spiders.
Needles are like spiders are like snakes. There's some natural, instinctual reason we hate them, probably like cats and plastic bags.
i've literally had someone have a panic attack in the chair drawing a few tubes of blood. My sister is the same way with spiders.
V
Vilix
Unconfirmed Member
Yeah, I don't see the problem here. /s
narcolovely
Neo Member
It is quite odd isn't it? When I was a young child my cousin was chasing me and I ran right into a spider web. The spider was kind of big and it's legs got stuck in my hair. I was screaming for help and my cousin just stood there laughing. I'm pretty sure that's where my fear started, but it's gotten worse as I've gotten older.
When I was 13 my Mom's ex-husband thought he could cure me of my fear by getting me a tarantula as a pet. I named him Fang, and would carry him around the house on my shoulder. I loved him, but still hated ALL other non-tarantula arachnids. Twenty years later, I'm petrified of tarantulas now as well.
I like to think that I'm a pretty brave woman, but spiders turn me into, well, a total sissy girl.
When I was 13 my Mom's ex-husband thought he could cure me of my fear by getting me a tarantula as a pet. I named him Fang, and would carry him around the house on my shoulder. I loved him, but still hated ALL other non-tarantula arachnids. Twenty years later, I'm petrified of tarantulas now as well.
I like to think that I'm a pretty brave woman, but spiders turn me into, well, a total sissy girl.
RoseBell69
Member
I never found a phobia against spiders and especially not over tarantulas. It is my dream to be a tarantula caretaker. I think they're extremely cute, adorable, friendly and could be one of my companions when I get a place of my own. So that if other insects are invasive of my property, I shall unleash my tarantula to help defend my place.
TheContact
Member
Natural selection combined with ignorance causes arachnophobia. Most spiders we encounter are harmless but theres always the chance you can encounter a black widow or something that will kill you so people just err on the side of caution and destroy or run away from any spider they come in contact with. If I see a spider outside my house and I know it isnt poisonous Ill leave it alone because the bugs it eats will likely do more harm than the spider will. They get a bad wrap unfortunately.
TheContact
Member
Snakes are cool but again it depends. Like a garden snake Ill pick up and play with but if it has venom Im saying the fuck away from
Fox Mulder
Member
I had one fly deep in my ear one calm summer night. It was...not fun.
No, that can happen.
Demoskinos
Member
ding. ding. ding. Their fast unpredictable movements are the main reason why I really dislike them. I don't have a crippling phobia like some folks but If i see one in my direct living space were going to have words and those words are usually my shoe doing most of the talking.
petran79
Banned
I dont do this everyday. Have to walk outside, find a spiders nest, a fly needs to bug me,I have to catch her by hand and the horizontal webring is very easy to escape from. Happened only once.
Karsticles
Member
you know who isnt arachnophobic? this lady
She's actually a body puppet being controlled by the spider.
It's just happy to have a host again.
Chuckie
Member
I hate you.
NHarmonic.
Member
The first one always cracks me up, so dumb.
F0rneus
Tears in the rain
Look at this shit
Ain't that a Goliath Bird Eater? Anyway, this picture shows how harmless these animals are. Look at it! It can't do shit! It's a big leggy ball of non-threat.
Now the Sydney Funnel Web (the males only strangely) and Brazilian Wandering Spider are...different things.
I used to be afreaid of them but one day I just stopped. It was the day I let a jumping spider crawl on me and I just watched it as it explored and what I saw was not an evil, aggressive creature, but a curious, timid one. I even let it chase my laser pointer around but it stopped once it realized it wasn't food. Hehe.
Since then my brain has flipped a switch and found them cute and endearing. Being near them is what helps a lot, like a form of exposure theory or a sense of normalizing them like flies and bees.
When I was five I held a snake and as a result I never once recall a time I was ever afraid of them. I think it is partly evolutionary genetics and partly the knowledge that there is a level of danger to them. But your mind can overcome its own fears if you force it.
Since then my brain has flipped a switch and found them cute and endearing. Being near them is what helps a lot, like a form of exposure theory or a sense of normalizing them like flies and bees.
When I was five I held a snake and as a result I never once recall a time I was ever afraid of them. I think it is partly evolutionary genetics and partly the knowledge that there is a level of danger to them. But your mind can overcome its own fears if you force it.
A redback?
He's insane
Without the added bonus of a boner
Kitsunebaby
Member
Mine was caused by the giant wolf spider that crawled on my face when I was sleeping and bit me several times when I was a kid. Dunno about other people.
The (above) average gaffer would disagree
Creepy
Member
I like spiders, I think they're cute even.
It's fortunate that I do because my house is full of them,
I can see 4 of them just on this wall infront of me.
Exposure is key to getting over the fear.
My gf is scared of spiders, I've managed to stop her killing them, she still doesn't like them hanging around though... she freaks out when they start dangling over the bed...
but she's getting better, she can sleep with them in the bedroom now, that was a big no before.
It's fortunate that I do because my house is full of them,
I can see 4 of them just on this wall infront of me.
Exposure is key to getting over the fear.
My gf is scared of spiders, I've managed to stop her killing them, she still doesn't like them hanging around though... she freaks out when they start dangling over the bed...
but she's getting better, she can sleep with them in the bedroom now, that was a big no before.
Oyashrio-Sama
Member
This sounds like the beginning of a Junji Ito manga.
highrider
Banned
Those fangs aint for nuts and berries.
MosquitoSmasher
Member
So I found two new things and thought it be nice to update this thread.
According to MSN hundreds of poisonous spiders invaded house in England.
Or you know, they actual were there al along but it sure is a thing of nightmares. Video:
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/video/vir...us-spiders-invade-house-in-england/vi-AAtN4Ts
And this is interesting :
Scientists discovered that babies as young as six months old feel stressed when seeing creatures like spiders and snakes. Long before they could have learnt this reaction.
http://www.cbs.mpg.de/Fear-of-spiders-and-snakes-is-deeply-embedded-in-us
According to MSN hundreds of poisonous spiders invaded house in England.
Or you know, they actual were there al along but it sure is a thing of nightmares. Video:
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/video/vir...us-spiders-invade-house-in-england/vi-AAtN4Ts
And this is interesting :
Scientists discovered that babies as young as six months old feel stressed when seeing creatures like spiders and snakes. Long before they could have learnt this reaction.
http://www.cbs.mpg.de/Fear-of-spiders-and-snakes-is-deeply-embedded-in-us