Why do cockroaches freak people out?

Question

Just curious. Is there any particular reason that the majority of Americans have such an apprehension to cockroaches? Is this extreme dislike an American thing, or does it occur in other countries/cultures as well? And why do cockroaches freak people out more than other bugs?

Any ideas?

Answer 1

It's the same reason why rats / snakes freak people out. We associate them with disease - death, and therefore find them repulsive. It's an evolutionary trait.

Answer 2

It's not so much the 'bug' itself that scares people. It's the reason they are there. When you see a cockroach it relates in your mind automatically as a filthy area. Then when you relate the two... Filthy area... Bugs... It tends to scare/gross people.

So in the end, it's just the idea behind the cockroach, not so much the cockroach itself.

-Tim

Answer 3

Its not great, the reasoning behind the freak outs. Human beings litterally have this feeling that when something so inferior to itself is near, it believes that the object is filthy and contaminated. A refrence could be when kings try not to look at their servants and usually busy themselves when they come to collect orders.

Answer 4

of course, here in the Philippines we always want to get rid of those unpleasant smelling creatures....
and maybe one of the reasons why most of the people don't want cockroaches is the scar that they will leave on your skin after they had bitten you and they also bring
Cholera----
acute intestinal disease: an acute and often fatal intestinal disease that produces severe gastrointestinal symptoms and is usually caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae

Answer 5

Besides the obvious reasons--they are very difficult to get rid of and they continue to multiple. If in an apartment building, you can not get rid of them in your apartment because they are in the whole building. You need to get an exterminator to do the job properly. They are tops on my list of dislikes. Seriously.

Answer 6

For me, it's just seeing a huge black thing with antennas on them crawling towards you at lightening speed with their nasty *** legs and UG.. freaks me the **** out tbh

Answer 7

I think it's because they're really fast and they go EVERYWHERE! I remember when I lived in the city I'd find them on my toothbrush in the morning. AGHHHH! And sometimes I'd be watching TV at night and they'd crawl up my legs! EEEUUUWWW!!!

Answer 8

Because they're gross and nasty. Just thinking about them gives me the creeps. By the way, I feel almost as strongly about spiders. But roaches are just plain nasty. Yuck.

Answer 9

WELL THE SMALL ROACHES CAN ENTER THE EAR CANAL (OR OTHER ORIFICE EXPOSED) AND DIE IN THERE, AND CAUSE A NASTY INFECTION.
AND THE BIG ONES, THAT EXIST IN UNDER DEVELOPED COUNTRY, FLY TO YOU, AND IT IS THE MOST HORRIBLE FEELING WHEN THESE CREATURES THAT ARE SO DIRTY AND DISCUSTING WALK OVER YOU, AND YOU CANNOT CATCH THEM TO KILL THEM.
AND YES IT IS UNIVERSAL, DON'T KNOW OF ANY ONE COUNTRY THAT LIKES THEM AND WORSHIP THEM. ANYONE KNOWS BETTER? (PS) IN OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE THEY HAVE OUTHOUSES, YOU CAN SEE THEM INSIDE THE OUTHOUSE ON TOP OF THE FECES.

Answer 10

I think it's because they tend to be associated (in our minds if not in reality) with filthy places. They thrive on rot (my opinion). They carry tons of diseases. Their feces causes asthma (I think I've heard that anyway). Just...yuck.