Arachnophobia – causes and symptoms of fear of spiders

The word “arachnophobia” is associated with a mythological figure. Arachne was a master in weaving and embroidery. Once, Athena challenged her to an embroidery duel. It turned out that the fabric created by Arachne was as impressive as that woven by Athena. This angered the goddess, and Arachne, out of despair, committed suicide. Athena decided to bring her back to life, though no longer in the form of a human, but able to weave a spider’s web.

Arachnophobia – characteristics

Arachnofobia (from the group «Arachne» – «spider» and «phobia» – «fear») is a type of specific (isolated) phobia, i.e. a more or less intense anxiety disorder based not only on the feeling of fear at the sight of a spider, but also on a distorted image of it. Unpleasant sensations are caused by the appearance of an arachnid and the belief that it is dangerous and threatens not only health but also life. People struggling with a strong fear of spiders do not even need to see them to feel overwhelming fear. Moreover, arachnophobia changes the perception of the object that causes fear. Research has shown that people suffering from this type of phobia perceive spiders as much larger than they really are.

Arachnophobia – causes

There are three approaches to explaining the causes of arachnophobia:

1. psychoanalytical, which emphasizes the influence of unconscious mechanisms of the formation of phobic reactions at the sight of a spider. Arachnophobia can be the effect of transferring aggression, attributing its own repressed hostility to the spider. Because a spider is thought of as dirty, disgusting, and shaggy, arachnophobia is also viewed as a projection of one’s own anal tendencies. According to other theories, the fear of spiders may stem from experiences during the Oedipus period;
2. behaviorist, which emphasizes the importance of learning fear through classical conditioning. In other words, a person learns to fear because he associates a spider with a threat, for example, he can mimic the phobic reactions of his parents, who reacted with panic at the sight of the spider. Arachnophobia could also arise from scaring a child with spiders;
3. evolutionist, which distinguishes the adaptive role of fear of spiders. This theory argues that man, by creating a natural defense mechanism, learned to be afraid of spiders and other venomous arthropods in order to be able to survive and ensure reproductive continuity.

Arachnophobia – symptoms

The symptoms of arachnophobia vary. Some react with panic attacks, crying, running away from the place where the spider is, screaming, or vice versa – silence and stillness. People suffering from arachnophobia avoid places where they could come across a spider (i.e. forests, shores of lakes and rivers, meadows, but also terrariums, darkened cellars, attics, etc.). Irrational, usually completely unfounded fear, is also accompanied by physical symptoms similar to those experienced during very strong stress. The most common symptoms include:

1. sweating,
2. accelerated heartbeat
3. dizziness, which may lead to fainting
4. chills,
5. gooseflesh,
6. trembling or feeling shaky inside
7. sometimes nausea and even vomiting,
8. delusions about spiders, e.g. that they are walking on the body, that they are behind the bed, somewhere nearby, that they are walking inside the skull
9. nightmares.

Arachnophobia – treatment

Research shows that this unjustified and paralyzing fear can be cured. One of the most effective therapeutic methods is desensitization (desensitization)that is, gradually reducing the over-reaction to the fear-inducing object. It is a kind of so-called tactic. small steps. It is based on the fact that the patient first looks at pictures of spiders, and listens to the therapist’s rational explanations and arguments (for example, that they are useful) with which he can build a more positive image of spiders.

At the same time, the doctor denies the patient’s false beliefs that spiders threaten him in any way. Treatment is undertaken at a later stage attempts to tame oneself with live spiders – approaching the terrarium and looking at them. The final step is to touch the spider or hold it in your hand.

Desensitization brings lasting results. People who underwent it did not feel fear of spiders even a few months after the end of the therapy.

Another method is implosive (shock) therapy in which the person experiencing fear is rapidly exposed to the stimulus that causes the fear. As part of this therapy, the patient is placed, for example, on the arm without any preparation. After repeating this behavior several times, the reaction to the anxiety stimulus should become weaker.