Why do so many people in the UK dislike spiders?

Question

Seriously, every other person that I know hates the little things and really there is no rational reason why we should fear them. What is the psychological reason for this? Do we inherit the fear because we see people being afraid of them when we are younger?

I can usually give or take them and am often made to dispose of them on behalf of my wife. But occasionally when I see a large one near to something that is personal to me (eg bed), it can freak me out for days.

The reason why I have made this question UK specific is because a) the majority of my foreign friends have no problems with them and b) spiders in the UK cannot harm you.

Thanks for all the replies so far. Just to reiterate though - I know that people don't like spiders all over the world, but what I'm trying to work out is why so many in the UK hate them, when all we have here is the small, harmless kind.

Answer 1

Cultural mass neurosis transmitted through behavior modification predicated on body language, popular myth and social reinforcement. Irrational, but in many ways, predictable.

Answer 2

I don't think its just people in the UK, many people around the world have a fear of spiders- its a very common phobia. I think this is because they look so different from us with their eight legs and many eyes and so there's something creepy about them. As for me done fear spiders, I think they're intelligent creatures and we shouldn't fear them- they must be more afraid of us as most people kill them and they shouldn't. By the way I'm in the UK and everyone I know fears spiders as well.

Answer 3

I don't dislike spiders I am terrified of them.
And the the UK (or even Ireland where I'm from) they are everywhere. Spider can bite, it hurts. Okay it's not poisonous but it still hurts! Also spiders can be huge. My foreign male friends have gotten a shock and just how big they can be like "wolf" spiders for example. Eeeeeewwwwww

Answer 4

I know you're trying to find out why - most of us don't know. probably coz our mums were always scared of them so it taught us to hate the little beasties.

Seriously try going on google - typing in - camel spider - click on images - then search - take a look at the first picture - be sure to enlarge it.... this will make every hair on a spider haters body stand on end!! i swear!! (it's as big as the guys leg in the background - yuk!!)

This makes me very gratefull that i live in the UK and our biggest spider is smaller than your hand. i hate them for a few reasons. they're so damn fast and hairy. i'm less scared of one if it's on the wall or ceiling....but if one's on the floor i'm faster than speedy gonzales - gone in a flash!!

Answer 5

The spider is an insect.An insect has no friendship with a man.Especialy those who fall under poisonous level like spider that is why they Uk person dislike them.

Answer 6

You are quite right. I live in Europe and they aren't bothered about the little things that creep and fly. Me? I don't mind spiders, they are good pests. I AM terrified of wasps though, and for no apparant reason either. Am just weak I guess.

Answer 7

Because they're hideous freaks that scuttle and skitter just outside of your field of vision so you can't find them when you look.

I have to turn the house out if I think I've seen one - no matter how big or small.

Doctor Who ruined my relationship with spiders!!!

Answer 8

Maybe it's just that people fear in general and in England we have no crocodiles, lions and really poisonous snakes, so we fear spiders. I too am scared of them.

Answer 9

I don't dislike spiders, I just have an irrational fear of them.

Everything about them makes my skin crawl, the way they look, the way they move, the hairs on them urghhhhh.

Answer 10

It takes an awful lot of spiders to make a decent sandwich!