Contrary to popular belief, fear of snakes and spiders may not be congenital, but acquired, according to Current Directions in Psychological Science.
Hollywood movies such as Arachnophobia and Snakes in a Plane use the common fear that these often venomous animals cause. This fear has so far seemed instinctive, but it can be acquired, according to an analysis of previous research conducted by Vanessa Lobuje of Rutgers University, David H. Rakison of Carnegie Mellon University, and Judy S. DeLoache of the University of Virginia.
According to one theory, the venomous nature of many snakes and spiders meant that individuals who avoided them had a better chance of reaching the appropriate age and reproducing. Research on humans and monkeys has shown that it is easier to learn to fear things that have threatened your safety as you evolved.
For example, Arne Ohman of the Karolinska Institutet has shown that it is possible to teach people to associate electric shock with snakes and spiders as well as flowers and mushrooms – but with snakes and spiders, the effect is much more durable. Susan Mineka (Northwestern University) observed that although monkeys born and raised in laboratory conditions are not afraid of snakes, they learn to fear these reptiles more easily than to fear flowers or rabbits.
The authors of the new work showed seven-month-old babies two films at once – one showed a snake, the other – an elephant that does not seem threatening. Both films were accompanied by a happy or scared voice. Hearing the frightened voice, the children looked at the snakes longer, but they themselves showed no fear.
Another experiment – with the participation of three-year-olds – consisted of viewing nine pictures on the screen. Snakes were recognized faster than flowers, frogs, and caterpillars. Children who were not afraid of snakes recognized them as quickly as those who had developed anxiety. It therefore seems that the ability to recognize snakes and spiders quickly is innate – and independent of fear. (PAP)