For beings who supposedly rule the world, we humans still have so much to learn about ourselves and nature. And since we tend to fear what we don’t understand, it’s probably no surprise that there’s literally hundreds of phobias out there, most of them having to do with plants and animals.
It makes sense that a lot of our most deep-seated fears can somehow be traced back to our distant past, to a time when our ancestors were struggling to survive out in the wild. But there are some phobias that might leave you scratching your head. And some can even seem downright peculiar, especially to the average pet lover.
SCOLECIPHOBIA
Scoleciphobia, or the fear of Worms, is often connected to other phobias related to similar creatures, such as Snakes and Worms that have overlapping psychological and sensory triggers.
The writhing movement of Worms, Slugs, and Snakes may evoke a sense of discomfort because of how seemingly uncontrollable and unpredictable they seem.
Researchers believe that such fears may be rooted in primal instincts, such as how unpredictable motion may be a sign of danger that triggers a survival-based flight response.
ALEKTOROPHOBIA
If you didn’t know what it was, this phobia might sound a bit… shocking. After all, it does sound like a fear of electricity. But “alektor” is actually Greek for “Rooster”, which means that “alektorophobia” is an irrational and intense fear of Chickens!
It’s not entirely clear where this fear comes from, but some scientists believe it may be due to traumatic experiences in early childhood, like being chased or pecked by a Rooster.
Being chased relentlessly by an animal can leave a lasting impression and even a lifelong anxiety, even against otherwise harmless Hens. Sufferers might avoid eating poultry altogether, anxious of even just the thought of being near a live Bird.
LEPIDOPTEROPHOBIA
How could anyone be scared of Butterflies?! On the surface, this (like many other phobias) doesn’t seem to make sense until you trace back its triggers to their possible roots.
For example, some people who suffer from lepidopterophobia have also reported a fear of Birds and other flying creatures that can swarm and suddenly attack. Some sufferers also report being scared of the seemingly unpredictable fluttering that Butterflies make because they don’t know when and where the creatures will land.
These suggest that lepidopterophobia may be rooted in a fear of being unable to control or escape one’s environment.
ARACHNOPHOBIA
Wait, why is fear of Spiders on this list? Isn’t that pretty common? Arachnophobia is indeed one of the most widely-known phobias, largely because of how it’s usually played up in movies, comics, and other popular media. But that’s also why it’s in this list, because of how pop culture might also be the reason why we’re seeing it on the decline.
Some tentative research has shown that watching superhero movies that feature Spiders, such as Spider-Man, seems to help lessen the fearful reactions of people with mild to moderate arachnophobia.
It seems that positive portrayals of Spiders may help viewers see them in a less frightening light. But it remains to be seen what further research will bear out, and whether these findings are applicable to other phobias.
CONQUERING FEAR
The common denominator for all of these phobias is that even though they can be very irrational and debilitating, they echo fears and concerns that we all have and share — of the dangers of the strange and the unknown, anxiety over an ever-unpredictable future, and worry over an environment that could suddenly overwhelm us.
But there’s always hope in that understanding: Looking at our and others’ fears is the first step away from them. It helps us understand who and what we are, so that we can finally learn what we can become.
