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.
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