Why Are We Scared Of Spiders?

[meglet]

I hate the things, always have done. But I didn't want my toddler (nearly 2) to pick up my fears so I have been trying for a few months to desensitise her. I have got her a few spider based iPad apps which she is happy to play, a big cuddly spider toy and I point spiders out to her when I can (I think it's actually doing me some good!) Anyway it has totally failed. Over the past week or so she had developed a hugely irrational fear of anything remotely spider-like. Any mark on the wall or chip in paintwork invites a freak out with her pointing at it, shouting "spider" and then we have tears.

So why do we have this in-built fear of them? They're tiny after all and run away when you get near them. I was thinking evolution but they're mostly harmless, certainly in this country, which would otherwise be pretty sensible.

There are plenty of other creatures that are equally weird looking that don't bother the majority of people like spiders do!

[ummmm]

I don't know. I'm not scared of spiders.

My mum done something similar to you and tried to act all casual. It worked for me.

[Canary42]

You're scared of them, so you tell us. I'm not scared of them so I've no idea why you should be.

[Psybbo]

Having once seen a spider kill a wasp in its web, I've become fond of them but there are some large ones I don't like

[meglet]

Interesting link that. Seems my anti-spider conditioning is a good idea but needs tweaking. And she got in from me in her genes. Could be worse she could have got my huge feet.

[Tilly2]

I'm not scared of them either. I always rescue them from the bathtub.

[tonyav]

I'm not scared of spiders, all of the rest of the family say their not to........ so why am I the one that is always called when a spider has to be evicted.

[meglet]

Canary that's true of phobias of other creatures I suppose. I have no fear of snakes (used to have one) nor rats, mice or bats but know plenty of people who hate them.

Oh and blood, but I think that's a bit more understandable.

[pastafreak]

Spiders don't bother me,it upsets me when people kill them.
When little pasta was growing up,we had a huge spider that used to skitter across the floor or show up in the corner of your vision. I named him Harry the Hairy spider so she would not be fearful...unlike her best friend.

[meglet]

Your link mentions childhood trauma.

[meglet]

I was hoping to train her into my spider eviction expert dammit

[tonyav]

Get yourself one of these spider catchers, meglet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2m1befNGIY

[whiskeryron]

//
pastafreak
Spiders don't bother me,it upsets me when people kill them.
When little pasta was growing up,we had a huge spider that used to skitter across the floor or show up in the corner of your vision. I named him Harry the Hairy spider so she would not be fearful...unlike her best friend.// Who was clean shaven & called Brenda.

[naomi24]

I am and I wish I wasn't.

[Prudie]

I'm not scared of any bug, bee, wasps, snakes, mice anything except spiders. I'm almost out of control in panic and couldn't even go near a dead one. That is not based on fear they'd harm me it's an irrational terror. If you took a large housespider and put wings on it I'd happily pick it up. Weird.

[DTCwordfan]

my daughter loves them and always has done from the age of 2, along with sharks, the soft toy syndrome perhaps.....and then she loves bats too - took her to the bat cave at Chester Zoo and she loved it, the only thing on display that broke the grumpy mood that she had been in, aged 4 (just).

[Arksided]

I like them, fly-catchers. I usually do take them outside but one on my kitchen ceiling at the moment cant be bothered climbing up to get it. Thing I don't understand is why are they all called Bob! ;-)

[ummmm]

Ha, Pasta, we named our resident spider 'Harry with the big leather jacket'

When I clean I will clean around a cobweb. I would never ever kill a spider intentionally.

[Arksided]

ok with the odd exception.