Selective arachnophobia - psychology?

[wedge07]

Everybody does seem to have some fear of spiders but in many cases can be replaced by curiosity. I agree with Sathane I think you should get one or two true spiders. A Phidippus audax would be a great first true spider. I regularly collect jumping spiders from around the house. They are very interesting little spiders and personally I think they are cute.


This one is Phidippus mystaceus.

 

[Sathane]

Awwww... Why the frowny face? heh

Everybody does seem to have some fear of spiders but in many cases can be replaced by curiosity. I agree with Sathane I think you should get one or two true spiders. A Phidippus audax would be a great first true spider. I regularly collect jumping spiders from around the house. They are very interesting little spiders and personally I think they are cute.


This one is Phidippus mystaceus.

 

[Transylvania]

Their general anatomy isn't much different than true spiders, just bigger. There are fuzzy true spiders also.

All spiders have eyes that could easily be described as tiny and beady, and that could easily be considered a bad thing to others. Both this reason and the last one are subjective and circular. It sounds like you're picking out the things that make them spiders, and describing them as 'cute/beautiful/adorable' things you like about T's because they are T's.
Again, you're basically saying you like them because they're T's. Their behaviors are different than some sp. of true spiders sure, but similar to others.

both of these are more circular logic, as well as very subjective/negative. I mean you're saying they 'freak you out' as one of the reasons you're afraid of them. You're picking out random small-spider details, giving them a very charged connotation, then using them as reasons you don't like them because they're true spiders.
I'm not sure what gives you this idea, they certainly want nothing to do with you, and aren't stalking you any more than they are plotting your demise;P
I'll say this again we are culturally conditioned to fear spiders based on an exaggerated sense of how dangerous they are here are a couple of good links on how 'potentially harmful' they are, and about them creeping up on you.
I think that's the heart of it, you simply aren't fascinated with true spiders, if you were you'd get over your fear of them, as you probably did with T's. Fascination outweighs fear.

I think I've already explained my point by now, so I don't wanna browbeat. You might be interested to know that depending on what sp. you mean, putting them outside can be fatal. Your home is their ecosystem for some of them. Here is another link about that
With this whole idea you have about them 'sneaking up' on you, you may want to just read about all of these different spider myths.

Keep in mind that those lists were only rough ideas of what I think of when I see true spiders and what I think of when I see Ts. Yes, some traits are conflicting - such as the fact that I love hairiness in Ts but hate it in trues - and those lists may seem ridiculous to you. But this is an irrational fear for a reason; facts and logic simply don't remedy this all the time. You can tell me that trues are closer to Ts than I think, you can present all the information, but my fearful subconscious will still think of them as entirely separate beings. I just can't help it. These spider myths have haunted me my whole life (the rest of my family must have conditioned them in me, because I don't recall going through any traumatic spider-related incidents, plus my family hates all spiders, including Ts). I'll go to the links you provided and hopefully I'll learn a few things to help me. Thanks for your help.

Btw, adorable photo, WS6Lethal.

 

[Transylvania]

Everybody does seem to have some fear of spiders but in many cases can be replaced by curiosity. I agree with Sathane I think you should get one or two true spiders. A Phidippus audax would be a great first true spider. I regularly collect jumping spiders from around the house. They are very interesting little spiders and personally I think they are cute.


This one is Phidippus mystaceus.

*shudders* XD

Speaking of jumping spiders, here's my conflicting opinion with them: I don't like jumping spiders partly because their big eyes and good eyesight frighten me (when they turn to look at me, it just sends chills down my spine; I feel as if they'll pounce). But so often I wish that tarantulas had better eyesight and could see us - it'd be adorable if our Ts could turn around and look at us. And perhaps we'd have greater incidences of psychotic OBT attacks. It'd certainly make things much more interesting, hehe. But see how that same idea conflicts? It just doesn't make sense to me... :wall:

 

[Sathane]

I'm the exact opposite when it comes to jumpers. I think the inquizative way they look at you is adorable.

 

[upwith inverts!]

Yeah, I think the thing with t's is that they are easy to keep an eye on due to their larger size. I had the same fear until~ 1 month ago. Then I started to catch wolf spiders in cups, and after that I proceeded to handling them. It's a dive in cold water the first time, but it does get better.

 

[upwith inverts!]

I knew one person who fainted when he saw a molt from a rosea. Wonder if it would be at all possible to cure someone with those symptoms of arachnophobia?

 

[WS6Lethal]

Yeah, I think the thing with t's is that they are easy to keep an eye on due to their larger size. I had the same fear until~ 1 month ago. Then I started to catch wolf spiders in cups, and after that I proceeded to handling them. It's a dive in cold water the first time, but it does get better.

I'd always thought of wolf spiders as smaller T's. They never do anything to anyone, and just run when someone gets close.

 

[upwith inverts!]

I'd always thought of wolf spiders as smaller T's. They never do anything to anyone, and just run when someone gets close.

Now that I think about it, they really are. Thanks for the metaphor.

 

[gvfarns]

True spiders are icky. Ewwww.

I have feared spiders since I was a little kid. I guess I was socialized into it. I didn't have any experience with tarantulas, though, until I was an adult and it was in a non-fearful environment.

 

[The Spider Faery]

But so often I wish that tarantulas had better eyesight and could see us - it'd be adorable if our Ts could turn around and look at us.

I agree. But who really knows what unique sensory perception they do have to compensate? Maybe they can sense us in their own way. (Or maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part. )

As far as arachnophobia, I was full on arachnophobic growing up, right up until very recently. As a child, if I saw a spider I'd scream for daddy to come kill it. I was well familiar with death curls before owning a T, after seeing spiders curl up when we'd spray them with Raid. Now I feel kind of sorry for them, looking back. I can't say what exactly triggered a fondness for T's but something just clicked and my fear ceased for them. I think I view tarantulas more as animals than bugs/creepy crawlies/insert any other stereotypical adjective. But since I've been learning about tarantulas, I've noticed my arachnophobia is starting to slowly cease for true spiders and other arachnids. The mystery is dissolving. Fascination is taking hold of me where fear once held me.

Some people are more afraid of tarantulas than true spiders because they view them as bigger, scarier and harrier versions of the little guys. It seems most on the board here, and myself included, see it the opposite. T's just seem to have more substance than house spiders, imo, that makes them less scary. Someone mentioned that they're bulkier so we can see them coming. I also think with T's being bulkier we feel we have more control over if they crawl on us. House spiders are so unpredictably dangly, who knows where they will end up crawling on and into (orifices anyone? )

There is; however, one arachnid that I'm sure would still have the ability to creep me out and make my heart jump into my throat if I saw one unexpectedly (besides the obviously necrotic poisonous ones) and that's a Harvestmen or Harvestor (aka Daddy Long Legs). EWWWWW!! It's the legs! They're so creepily disproportionate to their tiny bodies that it's sick. They're so long, it just looks abnormally freaky to me. I wouldn't want THOSE LEGS crawling on me.

 

[Sathane]

Ts have excellent sensory perception provided by their setae. They can detect sound as well as very minute changes in air pressure and
movement around them.

I agree. But who really knows what unique sensory perception they do have to compensate? Maybe they can sense us in their own way. (Or maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part. )

I don't mind them but they do remind me of the giant walkers in the War of the Worlds remake.

There is; however, one arachnid that I'm sure would still have the ability to creep me out and make my heart jump into my throat if I saw one unexpectedly (besides the obviously necrotic poisonous ones) and that's a Harvestmen or Harvestor (aka Daddy Long Legs). EWWWWW!! It's the legs! They're so creepily disproportionate to their tiny bodies that it's sick. They're so long, it just looks abnormally freaky to me. I wouldn't want THOSE LEGS crawling on me.

 

[Transylvania]

I agree. But who really knows what unique sensory perception they do have to compensate? Maybe they can sense us in their own way. (Or maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part. )

As far as arachnophobia, I was full on arachnophobic growing up, right up until very recently. As a child, if I saw a spider I'd scream for daddy to come kill it. I was well familiar with death curls before owning a T, after seeing spiders curl up when we'd spray them with Raid. Now I feel kind of sorry for them, looking back. I can't say what exactly triggered a fondness for T's but something just clicked and my fear ceased for them. I think I view tarantulas more as animals than bugs/creepy crawlies/insert any other stereotypical adjective. But since I've been learning about tarantulas, I've noticed my arachnophobia is starting to slowly cease for true spiders and other arachnids. The mystery is dissolving. Fascination is taking hold of me where fear once held me.

Some people are more afraid of tarantulas than true spiders because they view them as bigger, scarier and harrier versions of the little guys. It seems most on the board here, and myself included, see it the opposite. T's just seem to have more substance than house spiders, imo, that makes them less scary. Someone mentioned that they're bulkier so we can see them coming. I also think with T's being bulkier we feel we have more control over if they crawl on us. House spiders are so unpredictably dangly, who knows where they will end up crawling on and into (orafices anyone? )

There is; however, one arachnid that I'm sure would still have the ability to creep me out and make my heart jump into my throat if I saw one unexpectedly (besides the obviously necrotic poisonous ones) and that's a Harvestmen or Harvestor (aka Daddy Long Legs). EWWWWW!! It's the legs! They're so creepily disproportionate to their tiny bodies that it's sick. They're so long, it just looks abnormally freaky to me. I wouldn't want THOSE LEGS crawling on me.

Exactly! I just don't think of Ts as spiders - I know their relations in taxonomy (I've researched it and I'm familiar with all that) but for some reason I just view them as entirely different beings.

I totally understand what you mean with the "unpredictably dangly" description. XD Their proportions can be disturbing, especially with "daddy longlegs." I agree with you there - eeeeek!

But despite all the fear and loathing I have of true spiders, I've done things in the past that I later regretted after I started caring for Ts. Once I was sitting on my porch and noticed a spider cradling an eggsack - my arachnophobia got the better of me and without even stopping to think, I took the eggsack and destroyed it (I was afraid the babies would hatch and eventually end up in the house). Now I realize how disgustingly cruel and unfair I was being - that spider wasn't bothering me. She wasn't invading my house or personal space. She was simply caring for her babies so that they may one day grow up and help control the local insect populations. It was as if when the fear took over, I became some horrible monster, and I'm so ashamed now. :8o
Similar incidences involved my destroying spider webs that were outside. I regret doing that because those spiders weren't bothering me at all. Now I avoid disturbing spiders I find outside because that's where they're meant to be. But if they're in the house, they feel my wrath.

 

[The Spider Faery]

But despite all the fear and loathing I have of true spiders, I've done things in the past that I later regretted after I started caring for Ts. Once I was sitting on my porch and noticed a spider cradling an eggsack - my arachnophobia got the better of me and without even stopping to think, I took the eggsack and destroyed it (I was afraid the babies would hatch and eventually end up in the house). Now I realize how disgustingly cruel and unfair I was being - that spider wasn't bothering me. She wasn't invading my house or personal space. She was simply caring for her babies so that they may one day grow up and help control the local insect populations. It was as if when the fear took over, I became some horrible monster, and I'm so ashamed now.
Similar incidences involved my destroying spider webs that were outside. I regret doing that because those spiders weren't bothering me at all. Now I avoid disturbing spiders I find outside because that's where they're meant to be. But if they're in the house, they feel my wrath.

Well at least you now feel sorry for them...There's a little empathy kicking in where I bet there was a time when you probably felt relieved to kill them, without remorse. I'm kind of the same way. I never get spiders in my apartment...I seriously haven't seen a house spider in the 3 years I've lived here, but if I did, I think now I'd try and get it into a container and release it instead of killing it. There used to be a time when I'd never consider that. I couldn't even sleep unless I knew the spider was good and DEAD. So it would be interesting to put me to the test if I was ever in the situation where I came across a house spider, unexpectedly. Just to see if I'd be nice to it, but I think I would.

Now centipedes, on the other hand...It would take a lot for one of those wiley beasts to ever win over my soft side! ;P
I know some on the board might not like that comment, but I'm horrified of house centipedes! Again, it's the LEGS! Those crazy creepy legs. They're also fast as hellions and take a dozen blunt forces to kill them.

 

[WS6Lethal]

Here's something everyone can do... try to find a wolf spider with an egg sac, or babies. Once you how it is as a mother, you may change your minds.

 

[Transylvania]

Well at least you know feel sorry for them...There's a little empathy kicking in where I bet there was a time when you probably felt relieved to kill them, without remorse. I'm kind of the same way. I never get spiders in my apartment...I seriously haven't seen a house spider in the 3 years I've lived here, but if I did, I think now I'd try and get it into a container and release it instead of killing it. There used to be a time when I'd never consider that. I couldn't even sleep unless I knew the spider was good and DEAD. So it would be interesting to put me to the test if I was ever in the situation where I came across a house spider, unexpectedly. Just to see if I'd be nice to it, but I think I would.

I'd be happy to release a wolf spider into your apartment and "test" you lol.

Now centipedes, on the other hand...It would take a lot for one of those wiley beasts to ever win over my soft side! ;P
I know some on the board might not like that comment, but I'm horrified of house centipedes! Again, it's the LEGS! Those crazy creepy legs. They're also fast as hellions and take a dozen blunt forces to kill them.

Eee, centipedes. I just can't imagine how anyone could like those horrid things! There I feel no remorse at all. I do. not. like. centipedes, nor will I ever. XD Millipedes are okay though. I got to pet one at the zoo last week, and it felt pretty cool. But no desire to pet a centipede whatsoever.

 

[Transylvania]

Can anyone recommend some true spiders that closely resemble Ts? (Structure, appearance, "hairiness," etc.?) I'd gladly do some research on those immediately.

 

[Imbrium]

I'm no more afraid of true spiders than tarantulas. It's unexpected spiders that scare me. Sudden spiders dropping on you, or walking into a web you didn't see and not knowing where the spider is are the things that bother me.

 

[wedge07]

I'm the exact opposite when it comes to jumpers. I think the inquizative way they look at you is adorable.

I love the way these guys will follow you around. Their movements aren't creepy, they're funny. Their inquisitive nature is awesome. I pick these guys up all the time with my bare hands and have never been afraid of a bite. They are just cool. You can get them to jump from hand to hand. I am more scared of the wolf spiders we have and I will still catch those guys too.


As far as daddy longlegs go I have picked these guys up since I was a little kid. We used to find them all the time in the garage and let them crawl up and down our arms. They are not bad at all, just little aphid suckers.

 

[upwith inverts!]

Probably the wolf spiders. Maybe the one in Italy near Tarantella that gave tarantulas their name. Fishing spiders are also cool. Or you could research Non- theraphosidae mygalomorphs first, as a middle ground (i.e. some tarantula features, some true spider features)