kingsnake.com - reptile and amphibian classifieds, breeders, forums, photos, videos and more

return to main index

  mobile - desktop
follow us on facebook follow us on twitter follow us on YouTube link to us on LinkedIn
 
click here for Rodent Pro
This Space Available
3 months for $50.00
Locate a business by name: click to list your business
search the classifieds. buy an account
events by zip code list an event
Search the forums             Search in:
News & Events: 10 cutest snakes as determined by TEH INTERWEBS . . . . . . . . . .  Herp Photo of the Day: Salamander . . . . . . . . . .  Herp Photo of the Day: Salamander . . . . . . . . . .  I pickup the torch . . . . . . . . . .  Greater Cincinnati Herp Society Meeting - Nov 05, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  St. Louis Herpetological Society - Nov 09, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Colorado Herp Society Meeting - Nov 15, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Chicago Herpetological Society Meeting - Nov 16, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  San Diego Herp Society Meeting - Nov 18, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Suncoast Herp Society Meeting - Nov 22, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  DFW Herp Society Meeting - Nov 22, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Tucson Herpetological Society Meeting - Nov 24, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Bay Area Herpetological Society Meeting - Nov 28, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Greater Cincinnati Herp Society Meeting - Dec 03, 2025 . . . . . . . . . . 

Phobia hypothesis......invalidated


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Kingsnake Forum ]

Posted by bazmonkey on May 19, 2003 at 17:43:13:

In Reply to: Phobia hypothesis......invalidated posted by paul kemes on May 12, 2003 at 23:07:05:

How would it explain other phobias such as the fear of heights, confined spaces, the fear of dying, the fear of everything, the fear of the sun, or anyone of the hundreds of phobias recognized by modern medicine?

Fear of animals, at least, is somewhat widespread, especially re: snakes. Those other fears, i.e. dying and confined spaces, have perfectly understandable reasoning (our instincts tell us that 1) survival (and thus, not death) is paramount, and 2) confined spaces are less secure and gives the sensation of loss of control). Some fears (sun, butterflies, everything) just have to be written off as mental disorders along with OCD and multiple personalities.

I don't think we'll ever know why people in general fear snakes, but there can't be any question that there is something about snakes that invoke fear a great deal more than other animals, even more dangerous ones. From the bible to Indian superstition, there's just something about snakes that scares us.


Follow Ups:




[ Follow Ups ] [ The Kingsnake Forum ]