Why does it seem to be universal that all humans have a fear of spiders.?

Question

its almost installed in our genetics to be afraid of spiders

Answer 1

It is not universal or instinctual. It is a learned behavior taught by people with an irrational fear. Two year olds don't fear spiders until they are taught to fear them.

Answer 2

I'm not afraid of arachnids. I merely kill black widows on sight, but generally appreciate all others in my garden. If I find them in the house, I trap them and take them outside. They're beneficial and help cut down the flying pesky insects.

Answer 3

I'm not quite sure that this is true.

http://www.listafterlist.com/tabid/57/li...

Although fear of spiders is on this list (and I share this feeling), most of the rest of this list doesn't apply to me.  I think it has more to do with how you are raised than with some instilled, genetic feeling.

Answer 4

I think you just answered your own question.

Back in the early days of human development, We definitely had more instincts.  One of these was probably to avoid dangerous animals.  Every human with these instincts would have a greater chance of survival, seeing as they avoided things that could kill them. haha

So that got passed down to their offspring.

That stuck with us probably.  Thank Evolution for this fear.

Answer 5

Well, not everybody's afraid of spiders.  That's for sure.

What I think may be true is that in the west at least, we are culturally imprinted with a fear or at least loathing and aversion away from creepy-crawly things.  Probably to do with our standards of hygiene and association of bugs with unclean.

Answer 6

are you kidding??

What a daft behavioural explanation! Its nothing more than " the done thing"

OOOH a spider...Im supposed to jump and look scared...works fabulously in the company of men!

So, get a dose of reality. It is far from universal, its only what girls, and women at uni think is s**y to do.

If they use the 2 neurons and the synapse between them, theyd know which one of them would cause them less harm.

I'd chose to save a spider any day...cant say that about  men!!

Imagine having someone so much bigger than  yourself. Go on give them a chance, we are the scary ones!