Aracnofobia

Arachnophobia

Arachnophobia came from Greek Arachne, "spider" and phobia, "fear". It is a specific phobias about fear of spiders and other arachnids. It is probably the most common of all phobiasand one which we hear about with some frequency. Many spiders are inoffensive, a person with arachnophobia may still panic or feel scare around one. Sometimes, even an object that look like a spidercan trigger a panic attack in persons with arachnophobia (Monaghan, 2004, p. 12). A survey in Swedish of adults and children with arachnophobia found that 3.5 percent of the population have spiderphobias. This phobias affect approximately four times more women than men. One study suggests that before the women first birthdays, girls learn to link the sight of these creatures to the frightenedreactions of others with these creatures. Helena Purkis from the University of Queensland believes that children's fear about spiders are a respond of their subconscious that absorb this behaviorsfrom other people with the same fear. She believe that the way to treat this phobia is showing pictures to children so they don't feel fear in this situation (Bower, 2009, p. 11). Warrick Angusestablished a spider exhibition at Sydney's Taronga Zoo and running a regular arachnophobia course, called "Fearless at Taronga", to help free others from their terror enough to hold a spider, or at leastsafely catch one in a container and teaching the spider's characteristic. Since 2005, more than 200 people have been through the course, with around 98 per cent overcoming their phobia (Booth, 2008,p. 30).



Booth, C. (2008). Along came a spider. Australian Geographic, 91, 30-33.
Retrieved from: http://web.ebscohost.com

Bower, B. (2009). Girls but not boys may be primed forarachnophobia,
ophidiophobia. Science News, 176, 11. Retrieved from: http://web.ebscohost.com

Monaghan, P. (2004). Real Fear, Virtually Overcome. Chronicle Of Higher Education,
51, 12-13. Retrieved from:...