What is it about spiders that scare people?

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atom

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 1999
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I can't really put a finger on what it is, but spiders scare the hell outta me. Insects don't. Just spiders.

Does anyone have a good link explaining why people are scared specifically by spiders?
 
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JeffreyLebowski

Lifer
Aug 23, 2000
15,509
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because they're creepy.

There's just something wrong with a creature with 8 legs hair all over it's body and can jump up in your face and EAT YOU!!!!
 
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Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Many believe that it's a primal instinct that we haven't gotten rid of yet.
 
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Jugernot

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
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Most people can't stand anything that bites or stings. It has to do with the fear of penetrating the skin...
 
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Double Trouble

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Actually, the fear of spiders (and for that matter snakes and the like) is not something we learn -- several studies have shown that infants too young to have learned the fear have increased heart rates and the release of adrenaline when they see a spider. The fact is that through evolution we have learned that spiders can be dangerous. Humans usually fear anything that's dangerous -- it's natures way of keeping us from things could harm us.

The reality is that spiders are not life threatening in most cases anymore (a mosquito is waaaay more deadly on average because of the diseases it carries), but our primal fear is still there......
 
UNCjigga

UNCjigga

Lifer
Dec 12, 2000
25,594
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Cuz back in the day when our ancestors roamed they would get caught in these giant webs while spelunking and these huge giant cave spiders would then eat them alive. Also, these weird aliens would sometimes abduct a human for cruel experiments. They would abduct them using a silvery 'tractor beam' that resembled a spider's web...and their eight-sided spacecraft could have resembled a spider when dark outside...
 
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atom

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 1999
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It seems to me that if it were learned over the years, snake-a-phobia (or whatever it's called scientifically) would be more prevalent since snakes are usually more dangerous than spiders are they not?

There are far more dangerous animals than spiders around, so I'm still wondering why arachnophobia is so prevalent.
 
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WinkOsmosis

Banned
Sep 18, 2002
13,990
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I think it's evolutionary. I know it's the number of legs and the shape of the legs and body that make me afraid of spiders. I'm not afraid of small spiders like those ones you see running around your walls. I am greatly disturbed by tarantulas and the like. Insects don't scare me, but I really hate cockroaches, which I think is learned.

Snakes don't scare me at all.
 
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Crappopotamus

Golden Member
Oct 1, 2002
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theyre just CREEPY. i have no idea why they scare me so much. i will catch an ant and let it crawl on my hands... but im scared sitless to even crush a spider with a tissue. :eek: maybe its lack of segments. maybe the extra two legs. but probably just cause those things are PLAINASS UGLY.
 
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blackdogdeek

Lifer
Mar 14, 2003
14,453
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Originally posted by: atom
It seems to me that if it were learned over the years, snake-a-phobia (or whatever it's called scientifically) would be more prevalent since snakes are usually more dangerous than spiders are they not?

There are far more dangerous animals than spiders around, so I'm still wondering why arachnophobia is so prevalent.
Click to expand...

i'm thinking it's because you can find spiders in almost any home, whereas you probably won't find the other more dangerous animals in the common household.
 
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jagr10

Golden Member
Jan 21, 2001
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Damn, if you live along the coast you've probably seen some really big spiders. I used to live in Victoria, BC (canada) and the spiders there were just huuuuuge. They'd show up everywhere too. I mean, you'd just move the shower curtain to take a shower and this big ass spider is running in the bathtub. Or you'll move a cerial box and this big black thing is standing there. I now live in Toronto and the spiders here are smaller and i don't see them as often.
 
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LeStEr

Diamond Member
Dec 28, 1999
3,412
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Originally posted by: atom
I can't really put a finger on what it is, but spiders scare the hell outta me. Insects don't. Just spiders.

Does anyone have a good link explaining why people are scared specifically by spiders?
Click to expand...

Thats the exact same way I am and I cant explain it either.
 
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Spyro

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 2001
3,366
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Originally posted by: atom
I can't really put a finger on what it is, but spiders scare the hell outta me. Insects don't. Just spiders.

Does anyone have a good link explaining why people are scared specifically by spiders?
Click to expand...

All those beady little eyes....... LOL ;)

Seriously though, I 've got anout ten plastic ones on my desk right now, but I can't get a real one until I move out :D
 
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