Arachnaphobia
It is among the most common of all phobias.
Arachnophobia is a specific abnormal fear (phobia) of spiders and sometimes other arachnids, such as scorpions and harvestmen.
The reactions of arachnophobics often seem irrational to others (and sometimes to the sufferers themselves).
People with arachnophobia tend to feel uneasy in any area they believe could harbor spiders or that has visible signs of their presence, such as webs. If they see a spider they may not enter the general vicinity until they have overcome the panic attack that is often associated with their phobia. They may feel humiliated if such episodes happen in the presence of peers or family members.
The fear of spiders can be treated by any of the general techniques suggested for specific phobias.
Arachnophobia is, in many cases, the result of a traumatizing encounter with spiders in one's early childhood, though the experience may not be remembered.
An evolutionary reason for the phobias such as arachnophobia, claustrophobia, fear of snakes or mice, etc. remains unresolved. One view, especially held in evolutionary psychology, is that the presence of venomous spiders led to the evolution of an innate fear of spiders or made acquisition of a fear of spiders especially easy.
Most species are venomous (although many of the poisons produced by these species having no effect on humans) but some are lethal.
Arachnaphobia
It is among the most common of all phobias.
Arachnophobia is a specific abnormal fear (phobia) of spiders and sometimes other arachnids, such as scorpions and harvestmen.
The reactions of arachnophobics often seem irrational to others (and sometimes to the sufferers themselves).
People with arachnophobia tend to feel uneasy in any area they believe could harbor spiders or that has visible signs of their presence, such as webs. If they see a spider they may not enter the general vicinity until they have overcome the panic attack that is often associated with their phobia. They may feel humiliated if such episodes happen in the presence of peers or family members.
The fear of spiders can be treated by any of the general techniques suggested for specific phobias.
Arachnophobia is, in many cases, the result of a traumatizing encounter with spiders in one's early childhood, though the experience may not be remembered.
An evolutionary reason for the phobias such as arachnophobia, claustrophobia, fear of snakes or mice, etc. remains unresolved. One view, especially held in evolutionary psychology, is that the presence of venomous spiders led to the evolution of an innate fear of spiders or made acquisition of a fear of spiders especially easy.
Most species are venomous (although many of the poisons produced by these species having no effect on humans) but some are lethal.