Selective arachnophobia - psychology?

[Transylvania]

This question has bothered me for years, and I figured what better time to make a thread about it than now, when I should be studying for the big bad AP American Government exam that's tomorrow?

That question is: how come some people love tarantulas but are afraid of true spiders? (I fall in this category, and I'm sure many of you all do too.) I've been wanting to know the psychology of this selective arachnophobia for quite a while and have never really gotten a good answer.

This question was brought up again yesterday when a friend was over at my house. I was drooling over tarantula pictures on the internet when a jumping spider decided to make its presence known in my room. I immediately jumped up, backed away, and shivered uncontrollably - of course, my friend thought I was just completely insane! How can someone who loves these gigantic, hairy beasts be so terrified of those tiny house spiders?

So I've tried asking myself why I like tarantulas and why I don't like true spiders. Here's some rough ideas:

Tarantulas:
-Their fuzziness is adorable and their general anatomy is beautiful
-I love their tiny little beady eyes - I think they look cute
-I just find them so fascinating in everything they do

True spiders:
-They look "sharp"; it's a silly statement, but their thin, crisp, sharp-looking legs are frightening to me
-Other parts of their anatomy just freak me out (particularly some species' gigantic peering eyes, the shape of the fangs, etc.)
-They creep up on us when we least expect it
-Certain species can be potentially harmful (I'm always afraid to go into our storage shed because we sometimes find black widows in there)
-They just don't capture my fascination the way Ts do

Whenever I see a true spider, I either try to ignore it and hope it leaves, or I get someone else to kill it. I can't take them outside myself, and I can't kill them by any means other than by sucking it up with the vacuum cleaner.
It just seems that the bigger they are the more I should be frightened of them, because when I see a large true spider I go ballistic (much more so than if I'd seen a smaller true spider). Maybe tarantulas don't bother me because I just never grew up around them, so they've never "sneaked up" on me before and startled me. They just seem like entirely different groups of animals to me, not related in any way to true spiders.

I really need a psychology expert to explain this to me, because this is so embarrassing! :8o

 

[Sathane]

I'm no psychology expert but maybe more details from you would be helpful.

What do you think of when you see a true spider? Do you see it as dangerous or is it the creepiness?

You mentioned that you are sometimes fearful of going in your shed as you have seen widow spiders in there. Are you perhaps less knowledgeable on true spiders than you are when it comes to Ts?
The reason I ask is because widow spiders aren't as deadly toxic as the general public 'knowledge' of them would suggest. I keep many Latrodectus specimens, including two Latrodectus mactans, the famed Black Widow, and they don't bother me in the least. I'd actually much rather work with them than some of my more defensive and potent Ts.
The facts on the Black Widow in particular are as follows:
- The will always run when able. When doing maintenance, my specimens always retreat into their webbed hides.
- The bite is painful (check out the bite reports) as it is a neurotoxin, but deaths are extremely rare. Deaths from this species are normally because the bitten person is either very young, very old, or isn't healthy.

I think if you read up on true spider species and educate yourself about them a bit more, many of your fears will dissipate.

 

[Transylvania]

I'm no psychology expert but maybe more details from you would be helpful.

What do you think of when you see a true spider? Do you see it as dangerous or is it the creepiness?

You mentioned that you are sometimes fearful of going in your shed as you have seen widow spiders in there. Are you perhaps less knowledgeable on true spiders than you are when it comes to Ts?
The reason I ask is because widow spiders aren't as deadly toxic as the general public 'knowledge' of them would suggest. I keep many Latrodectus specimens, including two Latrodectus mactans, the famed Black Widow, and they don't bother me in the least. I'd actually much rather work with them than some of my more defensive and potent Ts.
The facts on the Black Widow in particular are as follows:
- The will always run when able. When doing maintenance, my specimens always retreat into their webbed hides.
- The bite is painful (check out the bite reports) as it is a neurotoxin, but deaths are extremely rare. Deaths from this species are normally because the bitten person is either very young, very old, or isn't healthy.

I think if you read up on true spider species and educate yourself about them a bit more, many of your fears will dissipate.

It's the creepiness that bothers me most.

Yes, I realize I'm not very educated when it comes to true spiders; it can be hard sometimes when I read about them and suddenly turn the page and find a large picture of one staring back at me. When I see photos of them I start to feel as if I have them crawling all over me and I start to rub my arms and scratch my skin uncomfortably. Perhaps I should just limit myself to sources that don't contain images?

I probably should've clarified my fear of black widows. I know they're not particularly deadly; I'm more afraid of the pain if one were to bite me. Also, my uncle got bit by a brown recluse recently and it wasn't pretty.

And it seems like house spiders don't want to avoid me. Sometimes I'll be laying in bed watching tv and one will descend from the ceiling fan onto my bed. They just make themselves at home in my house; a couple weeks ago I was in the kitchen and one lowered itself from the ceiling onto my shoulder. I think I'd be much more comfortable around them if I knew they wouldn't be hiding in my bedsheets or in my laundry.

 

[Sathane]

Alright, do you get the same feeling when seeing cartoon depictions of true spiders as well or is it just pictures of real spiders?

It's the creepiness that bothers me most.

Yes, I realize I'm not very educated when it comes to true spiders; it can be hard sometimes when I read about them and suddenly turn the page and find a large picture of one staring back at me. When I see photos of them I start to feel as if I have them crawling all over me and I start to rub my arms and scratch my skin uncomfortably. Perhaps I should just limit myself to sources that don't contain images?

You don't have the same fear over the pain of a tarantula bite?

I probably should've clarified my fear of black widows. I know they're not particularly deadly; I'm more afraid of the pain if one were to bite me. Also, my uncle got bit by a brown recluse recently and it wasn't pretty.

I get that at times too and, to be honest, it startles me when I have one just drop onto me even though I don't have a real fear of them. It may be helpful to remember that, like tarantulas, nearly all spiders have very bad vision. Their eyes are structured in such a way that all they really see are changes in light and rapid movement, so when a spider drops from the ceiling and lands on you it didn't mean to. It was most likely just wandering around and happened to land on you. I say 'nearly all' spiders have very bad vision because there are some exceptions, most noteably Phiddipus audax (Bold Jumping Spider) which has excellent vision.
The average house is home to quite a few spiders and other 'bugs' and you may perceive them as always coming up to you simply because your fears of them make you more aware of their presence.

And it seems like house spiders don't want to avoid me. Sometimes I'll be laying in bed watching tv and one will descend from the ceiling fan onto my bed. They just make themselves at home in my house; a couple weeks ago I was in the kitchen and one lowered itself from the ceiling onto my shoulder. I think I'd be much more comfortable around them if I knew they wouldn't be hiding in my bedsheets or in my laundry.

Have you ever thought of maybe keeping a few of the 'safe' true spiders in an effort to get over your fears? The aforementioned Phiddipus audax is really an incredible spider. Fascinating to watch with a huge array of behaviours. There hunting method is particularly cool to watch as they appear to track and follow their prey. I've been looking for a bunch myself to start a communal project of this species as they are one of the most interesting of the true spiders, in my opinion.

 

[Julia]

I would like to freely admit that I am the same way. Tarantulas are my sweet addiction, yet, true spiders make me shiver with fear. Same thing happens when I walk into a web outside. (In fact....the boyfriend laughed uncontrollably this weekend when I walked through a web and did a frantic "get-it-off-me" dance.) Something about the true spiders is just flat-out creepy, while tarantulas memorize me.

I like this thread.

 

[Sathane]

My mother has an extreme fear of spiders.

Her fears stems from when she was a child. My grandparents owned a farm in Spain and one day she ran into one of the older unused barns, right into a very large web that had what she described as "thousands and thousands of hatching spiders". She was covered and has had a deathly fear of spiders ever since.

I would like to freely admit that I am the same way. Tarantulas are my sweet addiction, yet, true spiders make me shiver with fear. Same thing happens when I walk into a web outside. (In fact....the boyfriend laughed uncontrollably this weekend when I walked through a web and did a frantic "get-it-off-me" dance.) Something about the true spiders is just flat-out creepy, while tarantulas memorize me.

I like this thread.

 

[Flower]

I am better about my arachnophobia as a whole now that I am so into T's. Admittedly, I am fearful of a true spider at first glance if I don't know what it is, because I don't know if it can hurt me. I know a T can't kill me, so I'm okay around them.

 

[Transylvania]

Alright, do you get the same feeling when seeing cartoon depictions of true spiders as well or is it just pictures of real spiders?

Just pictures of real spiders. Sometimes I can handle the occasional true spider photo or video, but more often they scare me.

You don't have the same fear over the pain of a tarantula bite?

Well I do, but that doesn't prevent me from buying them and keeping them as pets. Of course, because of the more potent venom, OW Ts frighten me more than NW Ts. But I still plan on keeping OWs someday when I feel that I'm ready (but I'd never handle them or touch them or get too close for comfort; 12" forceps are our best friends). You should have seen me when I had a 2" H.mac for a short period of time several months ago - it was a hilarious sight (keep in mind, it was a freebie; I knew I wasn't ready for it yet, but I had no choice there). I treated it like it was a radioactive ticking timebomb! The T pretty much didn't do anything but hide - it never bolted or "teleported" and it was actually a really calm T. But I never opened the cage lid; I cut out a small trapdoor and only stuck forceps in there for maintenance, and even that raised my heart rate like a jackrabbit. I named him Satan.
But anyways, it's the feeling that I could be bitten by a highly venomous true spider at any time that makes me uncomfortable; I'm not separated by a glass wall and they could crawl into my shoes or up my pant legs any time they wanted and it wouldn't be my fault. I understand the consequences of keeping highly venomous Ts and I know that it would be my fault if I were bitten - somehow, there's more comfort in that.

I get that at times too and, to be honest, it startles me when I have one just drop onto me even though I don't have a real fear of them. It may be helpful to remember that, like tarantulas, nearly all spiders have very bad vision. Their eyes are structured in such a way that all they really see are changes in light and rapid movement, so when a spider drops from the ceiling and lands on you it didn't mean to. It was most likely just wandering around and happened to land on you. I say 'nearly all' spiders have very bad vision because there are some exceptions, most noteably Phiddipus audax (Bold Jumping Spider) which has excellent vision.
The average house is home to quite a few spiders and other 'bugs' and you may perceive them as always coming up to you simply because your fears of them make you more aware of their presence.

Yeah, that must be it. When jumping spiders with good eyesight turn around and look at me, though, it is just the epitomy of creepiness.
I'm afraid of a lot of arthropods and insects, in fact. I'm fine with handling millipedes, scorpions, caterpillars, and butterflies; I can look at praying mantises and be in awe of them but I won't touch them; crickets I can put up with but they gross me out so much that I never touch them; centipedes, silverfish, beetles, roaches, etc. I just can't stand. I absolutely hate having these fears and I'd do anything to help overcome them.

Have you ever thought of maybe keeping a few of the 'safe' true spiders in an effort to get over your fears? The aforementioned Phiddipus audax is really an incredible spider. Fascinating to watch with a huge array of behaviours. There hunting method is particularly cool to watch as they appear to track and follow their prey. I've been looking for a bunch myself to start a communal project of this species as they are one of the most interesting of the true spiders, in my opinion.

I actually have considered this. I started keeping Ts so that I might get over my arachnophobia, but all that did was cure any fear I might've had with Ts; true spiders, I'm still phobic. I may just try this one day. When I feel I'm ready, I'll catch myself a house spider and maybe we'll bond, who knows.

 

[Sathane]

I think that this may be the heart of most cases of arachnophobia - fear of the unknown.

We 'know' that a tarantula bite won't kill you but we also know that there are some very serious true spider bites that can.
With there being so many true spider species, and many of them looking alike, it's often a gamble that could have serious consequences if you decide to play with an unknown true spider.

I am better about my arachnophobia as a whole now that I am so into T's. Admittedly, I am fearful of a true spider at first glance if I don't know what it is, because I don't know if it can hurt me. I know a T can't kill me, so I'm okay around them.

 

[Travis K]

I used to play with Hobo Spiders with I was a child all the time and even eat some to get reactions from people,:8o .

The only way to not fear something is to first understand the thing you fear, ie. learn about that thing. Then the next step is exposure, you need to get accustomed to them in order to not "fear" them any longer. YOU could PM PZB, i think she used to counsel people about phobias. Actually you would need to email her cause she is taking time off from from some things, but she might say so of the same things.

Good Luck,

 

[jamez333]

i think for me, its just the fact that i know nothing about the spiders that show up in the corner of my room. i dont know if it will jump or if its venomous or how venomous... and that its not contained.
i personally have never lost one of my t's but i see that when ppl do, they freak out just a little for different reasons, for concern about the spiders safety and their own.
if the spider on my ceiling was in a cup, and i could look at it up close, i just might be okay with it... but knowing its loose, is what i think freaks me out the most. =/

but i too share with you this, select arachnophobia, lol =)

 

[Sathane]

I used to catch and play with bugs constantly when I was a child. I am absolutely fascinated with ants and bees and other communal insects, particularly those that have a type of heirarcy to their community so I think this is why I don't mind most bugs.
The one thing that does worry me is my Malaysian Cherry Red centipede. The unpredicatability and tendency to thrash about coupled with my knowledge that their bite is very nasty has me shipping this guy out tomorrow morning. I believe I would be fine if I read more into them but, to be honest, I really have no interest in them. This guy was given to me in a lot that I recently purchased.
I think beetles are pretty cool and would love to have a few, like the Rhinocerous Beetle, in my collection but I really know nothing about them.

I'm afraid of a lot of arthropods and insects, in fact. I'm fine with handling millipedes, scorpions, caterpillars, and butterflies; I can look at praying mantises and be in awe of them but I won't touch them; crickets I can put up with but they gross me out so much that I never touch them; centipedes, silverfish, beetles, roaches, etc. I just can't stand. I absolutely hate having these fears and I'd do anything to help overcome them.

So it did work for you with Ts then. That's a good thing and hopefully means that you can use the same method to get over your fear of true spiders.
I truly believe that this is the way to go, get a true spider that you are certain is harmless, and take care of it.
I wouldn't rush into it until you a certain you are ready though because that could make things worse.

I would definitely take Travis' advice though and attempt to contact PZB and see if there is any help or advice she could offer from a professional point of view.

I actually have considered this. I started keeping Ts so that I might get over my arachnophobia, but all that did was cure any fear I might've had with Ts; true spiders, I'm still phobic. I may just try this one day. When I feel I'm ready, I'll catch myself a house spider and maybe we'll bond, who knows.

 

[Transylvania]

I used to catch and play with bugs constantly when I was a child. I am absolutely fascinated with ants and bees and other communal insects, particularly those that have a type of heirarcy to their community so I think this is why I don't mind most bugs.
The one thing that does worry me is my Malaysian Cherry Red centipede. The unpredicatability and tendency to thrash about coupled with my knowledge that their bite is very nasty has me shipping this guy out tomorrow morning. I believe I would be fine if I read more into them but, to be honest, I really have no interest in them. This guy was given to me in a lot that I recently purchased.
I think beetles are pretty cool and would love to have a few, like the Rhinocerous Beetle, in my collection but I really know nothing about them.

Hmm... ants and bees, no way. XD Rhinocerous beetle... perhaps. Those things are pretty cool, I have to admit.

So it did work for you with Ts then. That's a good thing and hopefully means that you can use the same method to get over your fear of true spiders.
I truly believe that this is the way to go, get a true spider that you are certain is harmless, and take care of it.
I wouldn't rush into it until you a certain you are ready though because that could make things worse.

I would definitely take Travis' advice though and attempt to contact PZB and see if there is any help or advice she could offer from a professional point of view.

Thanks very much! I'll wait until I'm ready for true spiders, and I'll contact PZB.

 

[WS6Lethal]

You know what to expect from your T (most of the time), and it is in a secure environment. The exact opposite is true of the true spiders. You don't know what they'll do, and you don't know where they are. I remember a study showing that "shiny hairless spiders" actually have more of a creep effect on people than "fuzzy" ones.

I think another aspect of difference of tarantulas and true spiders is that there is a large following of the tarantula hobby. You probably have seen people handle them, and it helped ease your fear of them. And with the hobby, lots of knowledge is readily available.

Most of the fear is instilled by those we were raised around. Did your parents fear them, and show it?

A prime example is my neighbor's 5 yo daughter. She was scared of spiders (yet curious), but you could tell that she was showing a learned response when one of my T's was close to her. After she saw how the T was with me, and how I presented it, she decided to handle him. I showed her what to do, and now I cannot pass her without her asking to play with them again.

What you need is a similar experience. Someone to show you how they are so you can learn from them. Or as some of the others suggested, try to keep one. In time your fears will ease as you learn more about it.

We fear the things we do not understand, so that's what you need to do... understand them.

 

[brandi71183]

I am like this sometimes as well. I prefer my spiders to be where I can see them. Those little spiders can be anywhere. Plus my T's are a little more predictable than a little spider in my bed! My T's are in cages that are secure and the spiders are not. Spiders creep me out too, but I cannot kill them. I get upset when I see other people kill them as well. I usually try and find something to take them outside and let them go. The only spider that I would kill would be a brown recluse. I would rather kill the spider than have my children be in danger.

 

[Sathane]

I don't think I'd keep a bee hive but I've read quite a bit about them. Very interesting creatures.
I've wanted an ant farm since I was young but just never got around to getting one.
As for that beetle, if I knew where to get one up here in Canada I would drive insane distances to grab it.

Hmm... ants and bees, no way. XD Rhinocerous beetle... perhaps. Those things are pretty cool, I have to admit.

No problem at all. I hope I helped in some way.
Good luck on your exam.

Thanks very much! I'll wait until I'm ready for true spiders, and I'll contact PZB.

 

[Sathane]

Well said and an awesome picture.

You know what to expect from your T (most of the time), and it is in a secure environment. The exact opposite is true of the true spiders. You don't know what they'll do, and you don't know where they are. I remember a study showing that "shiny hairless spiders" actually have more of a creep effect on people than "fuzzy" ones.

I think another aspect of difference of tarantulas and true spiders is that there is a large following of the tarantula hobby. You probably have seen people handle them, and it helped ease your fear of them. And with the hobby, lots of knowledge is readily available.

Most of the fear is instilled by those we were raised around. Did your parents fear them, and show it?

A prime example is my neighbor's 5 yo daughter. She was scared of spiders (yet curious), but you could tell that she was showing a learned response when one of my T's was close to her. After she saw how the T was with me, and how I presented it, she decided to handle him. I showed her what to do, and now I cannot pass her without her asking to play with them again.

What you need is a similar experience. Someone to show you how they are so you can learn from them. Or as some of the others suggested, try to keep one. In time your fears will ease as you learn more about it.

We fear the things we do not understand, so that's what you need to do... understand them.

 

[BrynWilliams]

I'd second the parts previously mentioned about the fear of true spiders being more a fear of the unknown in part.

I think people may find Ts easier to deal with is that most species (even the fast ones) give you fair warning when they're pissed, and because they're large enough to see this easily, so we as owners feel more in control.

I'm sure the owners of true spiders will say their spiders have this warning mechanism in place as well but purely from my perspective i'd not have a clue when a true spider was pissed but I damn sure know even when my rosea wants to have a go.

Another aspect is that a reasonably sized T, even a pokie, is big enough to see coming most of the time, compared to true spiders (e.g. in your garage) which you may not see at all until you're right on top of them. I think this factor may contribute to the fear and also plays a part in the 'fear of the unknown'

My current thoughts

 

[Merfolk]

Tarantulas:
-Their fuzziness is adorable and their general anatomy is beautiful
-I love their tiny little beady eyes - I think they look cute
-I just find them so fascinating in everything they do

True spiders:
-They look "sharp"; it's a silly statement, but their thin, crisp, sharp-looking legs are frightening to me
-Other parts of their anatomy just freak me out (particularly some species' gigantic peering eyes, the shape of the fangs, etc.)
-They creep up on us when we least expect it
-Certain species can be potentially harmful (I'm always afraid to go into our storage shed because we sometimes find black widows in there)
-They just don't capture my fascination the way Ts do

They just seem like entirely different groups of animals to me, not related in any way to true spiders.

I really need a psychology expert to explain this to me, because this is so embarrassing! :8o

You pretty much describe it to the point. I would like to add the fact that many araenomorph that look a bit like Ts (Lycosa, Dolomedes and other species with larger legs and smaller abdomen) don't provoke that reaction of disgust. It might be the silhouette, a bunch of tiny legs that look like skeletal hand, the disproportioned abdomen, the feeling that it might burst on you.

Actually, when people ask me if those are that different, I reply that Ts are to house spiders what sharks are to regular bony fish : An older ancestor that didn't change much since prehistoric times for it was perfect at first. An older form, bigger, meaner, better looking and far more fascinating!|

 

[Mr. Gone]

This question has bothered me for years, and I figured what better time to make a thread about it than now, when I should be studying for the big bad AP American Government exam that's tomorrow?

That question is: how come some people love tarantulas but are afraid of true spiders? (I fall in this category, and I'm sure many of you all do too.) I've been wanting to know the psychology of this selective arachnophobia for quite a while and have never really gotten a good answer.

This question was brought up again yesterday when a friend was over at my house. I was drooling over tarantula pictures on the internet when a jumping spider decided to make its presence known in my room. I immediately jumped up, backed away, and shivered uncontrollably - of course, my friend thought I was just completely insane! How can someone who loves these gigantic, hairy beasts be so terrified of those tiny house spiders?

I don't think you have 'arachnaphobia' or it wouldn't be so selective. That's such an over used term. We're all culturally conditioned to fear spiders based on an exaggerated sense of how dangerous they are. Its no different with true spiders than T's, once you're confident they can't hurt you, there isn't anything to be afraid of. I think self-proclaimed arachnophobes who aren't afraid of T's are just in a transitional phase in getting over their fears. Just keep educating yourself, and you may be keeping those widows in the shed!

So I've tried asking myself why I like tarantulas and why I don't like true spiders. Here's some rough ideas:

Tarantulas:
-Their fuzziness is adorable and their general anatomy is beautiful

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

-I love their tiny little beady eyes - I think they look cute

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.

-I just find them so fascinating in everything they do

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.

True spiders:
-They look "sharp"; it's a silly statement, but their thin, crisp, sharp-looking legs are frightening to me
-Other parts of their anatomy just freak me out (particularly some species' gigantic peering eyes, the shape of the fangs, etc.)

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.

-They creep up on us when we least expect it

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

-Certain species can be potentially harmful (I'm always afraid to go into our storage shed because we sometimes find black widows in there)

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.

-They just don't capture my fascination the way Ts do

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.

Whenever I see a true spider, I either try to ignore it and hope it leaves, or I get someone else to kill it. I can't take them outside myself, and I can't kill them by any means other than by sucking it up with the vacuum cleaner.
It just seems that the bigger they are the more I should be frightened of them, because when I see a large true spider I go ballistic (much more so than if I'd seen a smaller true spider). Maybe tarantulas don't bother me because I just never grew up around them, so they've never "sneaked up" on me before and startled me. They just seem like entirely different groups of animals to me, not related in any way to true spiders.

I really need a psychology expert to explain this to me, because this is so embarrassing! :8o

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.

Just educate yourself, you'll continue to get over your "arachnophobia" as you did with T's.