Snakes and spiders are subject to the most common fears. But, have you ever wondered when these fears are born in us. A study done with babies indicates that the fear of snakes and spiders is not innate, but learned from very early.
Some time ago we commented on an investigation that was raised if arachnophobia is innate, the result of an inheritance passed from parents to children as a means of survival, however a new research published in a specialized journal seems to break this theory. Children are not born feeling afraid of spiders and snakes but quickly learn to detect these threats.
By teaching seven-month-old babies two videos, one of snakes and one of non-threatening species as elephants while a menacing and a happy voice sounded, the little ones stayed longer watching the snakes when they heard the voices of fear, but They didn't seem scared.
In another experiment, three-year-old children were shown nine photographs among which they identified snakes faster than flowers and much faster than other animals that resemble snakes, such as frogs and caterpillars.
Children, like adults, have the ability to detect things like snakes and spiders quickly and associate them with fear. However, this would be a learned and not innate response.
The investigation could lead to interpret that just as parents instill in our children certain behaviors unconsciously, the fear of spiders and snakes could be a fear that they learn from a very young age, even without realizing it.
