Why Are We Afraid of Snakes? New Research Offers Insights

A new study conducted by researchers at the Max Planck Institute in Germany presents a surprising theory regarding human fears of snakes and spiders. According to the research, this fear is innate and serves to protect us from various natural dangers.

The researchers aimed to determine whether this fear is ingrained in humans because these animals could potentially harm us, or if it is influenced by the surrounding environment and prevailing culture. To assess which of the two possibilities is more accurate, the researchers decided to work with a group of infants—who have not yet been influenced by their environments on this matter.

During the study, the researchers exposed six-month-old infants to images of snakes, spiders, fish, and flowers. While the infants sat on their parents' laps, researchers measured the extent to which the babies' pupils dilated, allowing them to determine the level of noradrenaline produced, which triggers the "fight-or-flight" response.

The conclusion was clear: when viewing images of spiders, the infants' pupils expanded by 0.14 mm, compared to 0.03 mm when looking at flowers. In a second experiment comparing images of snakes with fish, the differences were smaller. Still, the researchers suggest that this is because both animals can trigger heightened responses regardless. Nevertheless, spiders and snakes caused the most significant pupil expansion in infants.

The researchers explained that "changes in pupil size are an important sign of the activation of the brain's noradrenergic system, responsible for stress responses. In other words, even the smallest infants appear afraid of this group of animals."

What causes infants to fear snakes and spiders? According to the researchers' theory, the fear is innate and its purpose is to protect humans from dangers. "Similar to other primates in nature, humans have brain mechanisms that enable us to quickly recognize objects like spiders or snakes and respond rapidly." In other words, the aversion and fear humans have for these creatures stem from their potential danger, often being venomous and disease spreaders. The remarkable wisdom of creation endowed humans with the instinctive fear to react accordingly and escape danger.