Why I think people are so afraid of snakes:

Fear of snakes is largely, if not entirely socialized, but I will say this. I obviously have no fear of snakes, but when I am out hiking or walking through my yard in the summer, if I see one I ABSOLUTELY have a brief physiological reaction, simply because my brain knows it has a split second to determine if it is a rattlesnake or a harmless species. Obviously if it a rattlesnake I love it just the same, but my approach of the situation is entirely different. This to me is a learned survival mechanism. No matter how much I love snakes, my brain has learned that I must be selective about which ones I grab in the great outdoors, therefore, I have a split second of adrenaline pulsing through me if one appears. It's really interesting to me because it is not fear, it's an involuntary defense mechanism: Do I need to jump back quick? Rapidly change my footing? Or leap forward and catch it! My brain has to rule out the first two before I can proceed.

We are designed with the capability for this reaction. Our ancestors did not have antivenin, they had to proceed with caution around all snakes or die. I think this is the root of the fear, generation upon generation passing on this wariness, even with the emergence of modern science and medicine. And snakes do still kill people every year all over the world, so there is a tiny grain of logic to the fear. What is illogical is blaming harmless species and being afraid of what can't hurt you.

Something I've noticed is that people who are afraid of ball pythons with normal paterns often aren't as afraid of an obvious morph.

I own a pair of piebalds. I've had people who were afraid of my het pied be able to handle the pieds. The pieds look more 'tame' to them. So far all but one who has handled the pieds was able to bring themselves to handle the normal appearing het after they held the pieds.

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Originally Posted by Redneck_Crow

Something I've noticed is that people who are afraid of ball pythons with normal paterns often aren't as afraid of an obvious morph.

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This is probably because their interest in the unusual animal outweighs their "fear." Glad you found a way to educate those around you about snakes.

I'm pretty sure everything that is coming up in this argument are learned responses. I have a five year old little brother, who has seen anaconda and all those movies and does not fear any of my snakes. His father, totally scared of them. Proving it is not instinctual or genetic. As for animals, my lab has absolutely no problem walking up and bumping noses with my 12 foot boa or any of my snakes. Now if the snake was to strike at her she would LEARN to leave it alone.
As for the rattlesnake vs garter snake thing, that's learned as well. Because you had to LEARN a rattle snake can kill you with one bite. All fear is learned. That's why you TEACH your children. If it wasn't why would we have to tell them to stay away from guns or sharp objects?

Look at it this way, there's tons of stuff that most of us would be squeamish about for no logical reason that would be totally normal, every day stuff, in other parts of the world.

People just have feelings, and education can only go so far. I mean we can laugh at all these reactions because we know it's silly, but we'd have the same reaction to other stuff that someone else would find silly. So y'know... It's human *shrug*

This is what freaks me out! I get so freaked when I see a common house centipede run across the floor that I can't even shriek. It actually takes my breath away. I think it has more to do with how incredibly creepy they look and how fast they move. While I know they are harmless and actually kill and eat all the house bugs you really don't want around, I still fear them.

http://img.tapatalk.com/a693619d-3a47-0fe9.jpg

So when people tell me they're afraid of snakes I try to understand their point of view, but I also try to educate them and help them get over it.

I'm getting use to the idea that I have centipedes. I've had them for years but I've finally convinced myself that if they're eating all the bugs that can cause damage or spread disease, I can tolerate them.


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Snakes, Jeeps, Dragons, Nature, & Knives.. Makes my world go-round!

A friend of mine joined me at a Reptile Expo despite being terrified of snakes in the way you describe, Foschi. She tenses up, freezes, very short breathes and can't even squeak she's so freaked out. When we first walked in, a friend of mine was holding his 5ft boa and my friend did a 180 and ran out the door, haha.

After some convincing, she came back in. When she held my hand, she nearly broke it a few times when she freaked and tensed up.

Eventually we convinced her to come see my friend's Grey-Banded King snake named Slinky. He's so chill and laid back. Just sits there. After some support, encouragement and letting her ask questions, she finally touched it. With a single finger. And she screamed, but she touched it.

The other day I invited her over to my place to see my new corn. A lovely (big) Butter female. She's a little more quick, pretty heady and fun to juggle. She calms down after a minute. My friend was more able to approach this snake than all the others at the Expo. I asked her why, and she flat out told me: "This one is pretty."

So I think your theory on the 'wildtype' does apply to some people's fears. My friend was able to even approach her cage with the door closed and look at her without so much as a squeak or 'scared' dance, haha.

It's an interesting approach, and one I've seen a few times. They will be scared to approach a small boa, but they will easily step up to a big albino, or something unusual (such as the snakes mentioned here with disabilities).

Expos and education are probably my favorite aspect of this hobby. Always great to see people learning to appreciate them, even if it's a slow process or they need some encouragement. My other half used to not be a fan of geckos. Not afraid, but not a fan. Now, he takes them out on his own, and 'claimed' one of my geckos as 'his' gecko. So it does happen. Just takes a different perspective sometimes!

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Originally Posted by Wiggy

Look at it this way, there's tons of stuff that most of us would be squeamish about for no logical reason that would be totally normal, every day stuff, in other parts of the world.

People just have feelings, and education can only go so far. I mean we can laugh at all these reactions because we know it's silly, but we'd have the same reaction to other stuff that someone else would find silly. So y'know... It's human *shrug*

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Totally true. I am freaked out by worms if they touch me. And I am not a squeamish person, I'm good with snakes, spiders... but worms. No. And people tell me "worms are kind of like snakes, that makes no sense!" Nonono. Worms are slimy and sticky and you can't see their head. Snakes have non of those problems. :rolleye2:

:cool:I was extremely afraid of all snakes when I was a younger buck. But decided one day, that since I loved looking at them from far away, that I'd go out and find one, and see how they actually interacted with me in the wild. It took almost 4 hours for me to find NC's own Copperhead, and after reenacting a bit of some old Croc Hunter episodes, I had the guy by the tail! He was miffed, at first, and believe me I've seen some Cop bites, they can be pretty bad; BUT I had a mission, and after a bit of handling, the little guy loosened up and actually let me hold it further up the body. It was adrenalizing, scary as hell, but it opened my eyes to a newfound love for snakes above anything else. Now I own a wild-rescued Garter and a 6month old Normal BP, and they are my whole world. Education and experience is key, when it comes to herps. 'Tis what I've learned.

I agree with the "unusual looking" snakes to be less frightening to people it's crazy, my mom is TERRIFIED of my normal BP, who that I might add has the calmest personality of any snake I have handled, but I showed her a picture of a pied and she said she liked it because it "was pretty and didn't really look like a snake". Haha whatever you say momma. :rolleye2: