http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8237691.stm

Click to read full article.

Conclusion:

Quote :

"A new study in the US suggests that women have a genetic aversion to dangerous animals, such as spiders."

Interesting method:

Quote :

"The new research was headed up by developmental psychologist, Dr David Rakison, from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, 10 baby girls, and 10 baby boys were subjected to a number of pictures of spiders to gauge their reactions. First the babies were shown a picture of a spider with a fearful human face, followed by images of a spider paired with a happy face - alongside an image of a flower twinned with a fearful face. The results showed that the girls - some as young as 11 months old - looked longer at the picture of the happy face with a spider than the boys, who looked at both images for an equal time. The researchers concluded that the young girls were confused as to why someone would be happy to be twinned with a spider, and were quick to associate pictures of arachnids with fear. The boys, it seems, remained totally indifferent emotionally."

Explanation of this trait:

Quote :

"Mr Rakison attributes this genetic predisposition to behavioural traits inherent in our hunter-gatherer ancestors. Men, he purports, were the greater natural risk takers, the ones who took greater risks were more successful when going out to hunt for food. With women, in their role as natural child protectors, it made sense for them to be more cautious of animals such as snakes or spiders, Mr Rakison adds."

Stats from a previous study:

Quote :

"Previous research has shown that almost 6% of people have a phobia of snakes, with nearly 4% scared of spiders. However, of that percentage, four times are likely to be women than men."

9/19/2009 4:35:53 PM

worst study ever.

really, girls looked longer. so they must be confused by the pairing?

9/19/2009 4:43:15 PM

haha that's what i was thinking. first time i read the full article, at the end, i was like "where did they show that girl babies were scared of spiders? "

9/19/2009 4:55:49 PM

the sad thing is that somewhere, somebody's tax-dollars are paying for this bit of stupidity masquerading as science

9/19/2009 4:57:34 PM

wtf carnegie mellon?

study something useful.

9/19/2009 5:19:19 PM

Dangerous? spiders?

9/19/2009 5:20:50 PM

I'm pretty sure it's all humans that have an innate fear of spiders and snakes.


There was a study done where they like "taught" fear by showing pictures of snakes and spiders and other stuff and subjecting the person to an electric shock. After they stopped administering shocks to pictures of things other than snakes and spiders, the fear of them disappeared (measured by heart rate, or some other physiological factor). With the spiders and snakes, the fear never became fully extinct, even long after the shocks were no longer given.

9/19/2009 6:09:13 PM

i seen a girl baby grab and eat a spider once

she wasn't skurred

9/19/2009 6:12:31 PM

this is funny to me b/c 9 out of 10 men i know are petrified of spiders

so by that thought...9 out of 10 men i know are actually pansy little girls

9/19/2009 6:14:37 PM

A+ would study again

9/19/2009 6:14:47 PM

look here woman, i'll fight a goddamned bear if necessary

but i'm not dicking around with any arachnids

9/19/2009 6:19:28 PM

Quote :

"I'm pretty sure it's all humans that have an innate fear of spiders and snakes."

Yeah that's because they may be harmful. But, the fear you are referring to is healthy fear, which almost everybody on the planet has of various dangerous situations, except for daredevils and people born with lasers on their heads.

Irrational fear/phobia of spiders and snakes is not innate to every human, though. I, for one, am not scared of insects or any other creepy crawlies. As long as I know the creature is not poisonous, I would happily manhandle (but not harm) it and play with it with my bare hands all day, even if it can inflict a painful bite. I would love to get a chance to 'play' with/taunt a good-sized (say 75 pounds) non-venomous snake one day. And I would love to wrestle an adolescent croc/alligator.

In fact, one thing I want to try before I die is being bitten by a non-venomous snake, just to see how painful it is.

9/19/2009 6:29:45 PM

you're a strange one, lad

9/19/2009 6:30:58 PM

hmmm


i don't have much of a problem with spiders as long as they aren't starting shit with me
then, it's war

9/19/2009 7:02:49 PM