An American study by scientists from the University of California has indicated that the fear of snakes and spiders is something innate, the result of inheritance and transmitted from parents to children as an element that favored survival in the past. That is, they have raised whether arachnophobia is innate in humans
They began studying animals, specifically lobsters, and demonstrated that the descendants of mothers who had been exposed to the danger of being attacked by spiders, responded more quickly to the presence of a arachnid.
They also complemented their work with experiments with humans, realizing that children and adults were much faster in identifying snake and spider figures than, for example, flowers or frogs, which are not dangerous for survival in natural life.
I am afraid of spiders, snakes and other bugs, it does not reach a paralyzing phobia, but if they leave me very nervous and my reaction is excessive, as if reacting to a much greater danger than they represent. My son also has that same reaction, but I don't know if it will be something innate or if I have taught him with my behavior. What experiences do you have with this topic?
I don't know if the conclusion of the heritability of fear of these animals, the innate character of arachnophobia, can be demonstrated, but of course it gives to consider this hypothesis.
