Have you ever wondered why you are scared of spiders? You've never had a traumatic event happen to you, that includes spiders... So why are most people scared of them?
The answer my dear friends, is that you're taught to be scared of them. Yes...... taught.
Doesn't sound right? Just bare with me while I explain my theory...... It started two weeks ago in my psychology class. We were learning about fears and where they come from. The professor said, "raise your hand if you're scared of spiders.". About 95% of the class raised their hands. Other than myself and maybe two other students, no one really had a valid reason on why they were terrified of the tiny creatures.
My professor then went into detail, saying that you are taught to be scared of something. He told us that when you're younger, a parent or sibling can show their fear of something, and you'll automatically have the same fear. He then showed us a video of a little baby playing with a snake, and it wasn't just a cute video of an unusual pair of friends. This snake was obviously angry, he was hissing, jumping at the child and what it sounded like growling.
Naturally, with those signs, its obvious to remove the child or to even show fear, but the neither the parents nor the child did either. The child continued to play and his/her parents continued to laugh and talk amongst their friends as if it were a normal day. Some may believe that since it were across the world in India, maybe thats why the baby showed no fear, yet that wasn't the case.
The baby showed no fear because the parents were brave and acting as if nothing were happening. They didn't snatch the little baby away, scream or panic. They laughed with the baby, therefore he/she had fun like any other day..........
I personally wouldn't say that I'm afraid of snakes, but I definitely wouldn't be near one, let alone have my child playing with one.
My question to you all is, what is something that you're frightened by and what happened to make you fear such.
For the longest time and even some occurrences now if unexpected, I used to have a irrational fear about the popping of a balloon. When I was little I assume I was at a party and I saw my brother put his fingers in his ear. I tried to follow suit but just before I raised it someone popped a balloon and it just rang my ears that I had to run outside to the back yard to calm down. I think it was the abrupt sound of it popping that I didn't like. I can take a balloon popping nowadays if I am aware its going to happen or that there is a possibility. I cant do insects at all, i have had to many run-ins with them, I either kill them on spot or let it bother me if there around.
ReplyDeleteI'm terrified of dogs! I realized I was scared of them when I was chased off my bike at age 9 by a dog. Since that moment I have never wanted to look at a dog!
ReplyDeleteI am terrified of bed bugs. I had an bad experience when my first semester roommate had them and just the thought of the bed bugs killed me.
ReplyDeleteI am terrified of FROGS! I cannot see a picture of one, a statue of one, or anything dealing with a frog. They make my skin crawl. The first time I found out that I was scared of them, is when I was at the pool and one was under my chair. I instantly reacted and was so terrified. I had to jump in the pool to swim to the other side. I cannot be anywhere near those things.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that our fears are indeed taught. Personally, I am afraid of heights. I've never had a traumatic event regarding heights, but every time I think about if one were to happen, I get sick to my stomach. I'm not quite sure exactly where it stemmed from.
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