• Question: why are so many people scared of spiders more than other animals?

    Asked by freyawilliams to Alex, Ali, Kerry, Philip, Theo on 14 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Alex Pool

      Alex Pool answered on 14 Nov 2014:

      Interestingly there is evidence that arachnophobia (the fear of spiders) can actually be inherited from your parents. So that’d be a bit part why. Over 40% of people’s fears come from a fear of bugs and spiders.

    • Photo: Philip Ratcliffe

      Philip Ratcliffe answered on 14 Nov 2014:

      Are that many people really scared of spiders more than, say, lions? I know which I’d prefer to be sat next to! I don’t think I know that many people who are scared of spiders.

    • Photo: Alison Thomson

      Alison Thomson answered on 17 Nov 2014:

      A lot of our fears are learnt from the experience of others. The films arachnophobia, or 8 legged freaks, or any other spider film out there, are all conditioning us to think that spiders are threatening. But I bet you’ve never actually had a bad experience with a spider yourself have you?!
      We see people everywhere freaking out when there’s a spider near, but they’re only really doing it because they’ve been taught to fear spiders by other people.
      I don’t mind spiders if I can see them and know exactly where they are – when they disappear that’s when I start to go a little bit mental and perch on the table top until someone saves me!

      Good question! Although I’ve got the heebie jeebies from thinking about spiders now! Thanks!

Comments