Another piece from SciAm.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-facebook-is-saving-snakes/

I like the psychology aspect.

>>Her words echo what psychologist András Norbert Zsidó of the Institute of Psychology at the University of Pécs in Hungary has found in his studies of snake fears. “The exposure in such groups has two key factors: habituation and knowledge,” he says. Group members can encounter the object of their fear while being in control of the encounter, he explains, which is important in exposure therapy.

“The anxiety and fear the person feels slowly subside; the person gets used to the object. This is what we call habituation,” Zsidó says. “People in such groups can learn a lot about snakes and various species, and that knowledge in itself could also help lower the fear.” The familiarity inoculates them against the fear, which may then become fascination.<<

buffy said:

Another piece from SciAm.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-facebook-is-saving-snakes/

I like the psychology aspect.

>>Her words echo what psychologist András Norbert Zsidó of the Institute of Psychology at the University of Pécs in Hungary has found in his studies of snake fears. “The exposure in such groups has two key factors: habituation and knowledge,” he says. Group members can encounter the object of their fear while being in control of the encounter, he explains, which is important in exposure therapy.

“The anxiety and fear the person feels slowly subside; the person gets used to the object. This is what we call habituation,” Zsidó says. “People in such groups can learn a lot about snakes and various species, and that knowledge in itself could also help lower the fear.” The familiarity inoculates them against the fear, which may then become fascination.<<

Ever notice a gender bias in fear of snakes and spiders?

It makes me wonder if there’s some Freudian thing going on here, but I lack evidence to confirm or deny.

mollwollfumble said:

buffy said:

Another piece from SciAm.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-facebook-is-saving-snakes/

I like the psychology aspect.

>>Her words echo what psychologist András Norbert Zsidó of the Institute of Psychology at the University of Pécs in Hungary has found in his studies of snake fears. “The exposure in such groups has two key factors: habituation and knowledge,” he says. Group members can encounter the object of their fear while being in control of the encounter, he explains, which is important in exposure therapy.

“The anxiety and fear the person feels slowly subside; the person gets used to the object. This is what we call habituation,” Zsidó says. “People in such groups can learn a lot about snakes and various species, and that knowledge in itself could also help lower the fear.” The familiarity inoculates them against the fear, which may then become fascination.<<

Ever notice a gender bias in fear of snakes and spiders?

It makes me wonder if there’s some Freudian thing going on here, but I lack evidence to confirm or deny.

Nurture maybe