Why are so many people arachnophobic?

[Smokey the mudkip 52]

spiders are scary! well, maybe its because i've been bitten by them too many times, once i got bit on my hand it swelled up and i couldn't move my hand! yeah.... not fun X3

[Samurshy 708]

I think the fear of spiders has to do with human psychology, in the fact that most fear oddities or things that are different than what people normally deal with on a day to day basis. I am sort of afraid of people who have two heads, but it is not because of a certain stereotype or thing I think they do, it is because they are different then what I deal with on a day to day basis. Spiders are so different that they creep out most people including me. Those are my thoughts, take em or leave em.

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

Because they're one of the few things that small than can potentially do real damage to you. Not to mention the way they move is creepy as all hell.

Edited May 8, 2013 by Shoboni

[Celtore 2,770]

Spiders are my allies. They assist me with hunting the TRUE enemy: the common housefly!

 

But yeah, the spiders we have here aren't really that big and even the larger ones are typically passive and harmless. Very rarely I wake up with a spider bite, but it's just kind of irritating in the same sense a mosquito bite is. They mostly stay out of the bedrooms anyway since there is no food up there.

 

Spider's aren't that scary really and can actually be quite fascinating. WASPS on the other hand...

Edited September 11, 2012 by Celtore

[碇 シンジン 27,433]

because spiders are something that is not natural like all other insects too many legs it mages them creepy and the way they move those legs *shudder*

[Dreambiscuit 10,092]

I don't like any bugs, but spiders are the worst! I tried to apply logic to it but it's no use. Something about their shape and the way they move just affects something in my subconscious and makes me a nervous wreck. I don't even like to get close enough to squish them, but I'll make the exception. 

[Jeric 46,860]

Oh good. Spider thread is back. 

@PathfinderCS

Spoiler

 

Didn't expect that did you?

[Outnick 1,228]

On 26/08/2012 at 5:44 AM, Tol'Satha said:

I've been reading a bit about phobias, and it turns out that Arachnophobia is the most common one. I knew lots of people were afraid of spiders, but i was still confused by the numbers. According to wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia....i/Arachnophobia), 50% of women and 10% of men (leading to around 1/3 of the population) is arachnophobic. I personally love them so It really makes no sense to me that out of all the scary and dangerous things in this world, the most widespread fear is that of a usefull, non-agressive, tiny, harmless creature.

 

How can someone be afraid or disgusted by these cute eyes: (spoiler for arachnophobes)

 

 

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I've googled and googled, and all i find are speculations and theories, but nobody seems to know exactly why so many people are arachnophobic.

What is your opinion on this? Why is this such a massive phobia?

oh my god a spider, oh my god a spider oh my god a spider.

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,162]

17 minutes ago, Jeric said:

Oh good. Spider thread is back. 

@PathfinderCS

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Didn't expect that did you?

Lucas is welcome in my home anytime he wishes. <3

[Midnight Solace 5,132]

Because Spiders are just... Creepy in a way. Like the way they make cobwebs, move, and bite you. And they are hiding everywhere.

Australia has way too many spiders.

[Olly 1,011]

Because spiders, like many other insects or deep sea fish, are fundamentally very different from mammals. It's a general rule that the more different something is, the more fear it will illicit to the average person. Think of aliens, and why they're sometimes viewed as or created "creepy", it's the same principle. 

Edited December 9, 2018 by Olly

[Here No Longer 5,276]

I never really understood it myself. They kind of look creepy and icky, but... They more often than not just mind their own business and don't bother anyone... If there's a lot of them in your house, you may have to worry about them trying to make a web across a walkway, but as long as they aren't crawling on me, I have no problems with them and in fact welcome them for the most part. They'll eat flies, and that's rather nice.

[Lucky Bolt 35,085]

Well for me, it has something to do with those long creepy legs they have. 

[The Recherche 29,969]

I believe it may be genetic, from what I have read thus far. Spiders have the capacity to be terribly dangerous creatures due to venom, so an aversion to them may be inherently built into our minds. The same applies for snakes, as far as I am aware. Personally, however? I have never held much issue with spiders as a whole. I much prefer spiders over the insects they feast upon,

[Early Sunsets 2,107]

Because they're creepy mf-ers. The way they crawl is just nasty, and don't get me started on the webs.

[Partialgeek514 5,011]

I'm not scared of spiders, I just have a strong compulsion to run and scream like a five year old girl the moment I see one close it me.  Also, I have a strong desire for them all to be wiped from existence.

[EpicEnergy 23,224]

It's the way they look, all those legs moving around is just plain freaky, along with their eyes and fangs. The bigger and faster they are, the scarier they are. Especially those that can jump at you. 

I don't think I have arachnophobia, but I'm still a little fearful of spiders.