I have an overwhelming fear of spiders. I do not recall any past experience that would make me afraid of them, so I am wondering where this came from. Are you born with it? Why do some people have them when others don't?
2007-01-25 18:42:08 · 7 answers · asked by michellecdnd 3 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
As I understand, phobias are learned responses. They can be learned in different ways. One way is witnessing another's response to something.. for example, a mother's response to dogs. A child may not be at all inherently afraid of dogs, but if she's witnessed Mom's reactions, she could develop a fear.
Another way is an associated response. A prime example is a panic attact. For instance.. a woman is shopping in a grocery store. All is fine, and then she feels sudden physical symptoms: Shaking, sweating, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, etc. She thinks she is having a heart attack and leaves the store. Miracuously, the symptoms disappear. She is relieved, but will not risk "going into the store again." This sets up a fear of the grocery store, since that is where the symptoms started.
Regardless where the phobia comes from, the cure is de-sensitization. But you are not asking about a fear, only the origin of that fear.
I would guess that either you or your mother had a sudden (scream) experience with a spider when you were in the 2-3yr old age range. This is when imagination is getting strong. This could have carried over into adulthood. Facing the subject of your fear is helpful to conquering it.
Best of luck
2007-01-25 19:01:20 · answer #1 · answered by Napa_girl 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is possible to inherit phobias from parents. I remember reading something about fear of spiders in a book I read by a man named Henry Wright of www.pleasantvalleychurch.net. He's helped a lot of people deal with their phobias.
2007-01-25 19:14:44 · answer #2 · answered by emsjoflo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well there's alot of reasons. Past experiences, traumatic events.. there's a study that even says it's genetic. My personal belief is that it's actually learned. I think you pick up on peers reactions and even in your subconcius when you're a baby/toddler when you can't remember. You just recognize fear or startled reactions and begin to momic it. But that's just my theory
2007-01-25 18:52:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ask your parents if one of them has this fear also, and if they do, that is where you got it from. it only takes a few times of having the most important person in your life get scared to influence your fears of the same situation.
and as a child of say 4 years, one day is hard to remember as an adult, but the wiring is in place, for better or worse.
2007-01-25 18:53:21 · answer #4 · answered by SAINT G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our parents can instill fears in us from an age when we are not able to remember specific incidents. Perhaps we had an unpleasant experience at this age and are not able to remember details of the event,but the fear remains...
2007-01-25 18:51:23 · answer #5 · answered by Ricvee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have a phobia of opossums...and it started maybe 4 years ago...i had some really horrible dreams and for that first year it was hard to even say opossum...but i am still extremely afraid of them....so frankly i dont know how it happens either....
2007-01-25 19:01:45 · answer #6 · answered by michele m 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From past trauma. You may not remember it because it may happened to you while you are a baby and too small to remember stuff.
People have different experiences, you know.
2007-01-25 18:52:56 · answer #7 · answered by BryanB 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋