I used to be terrified of spiders (arachnophobia). Lots of people are afraid of spiders; not only are they really creepy-looking, but some of them are so poisonous that they can kill us. In today's world, with our Emergency Rooms, anti-venom shots, and antibiotics, people now can survive a bite from something like a Brown Recluse with the proper medical attention.

But even just 150 years ago, these wonderful services were not available. So this made me think about what it must have been like for people who lived perhaps 25,000 years ago. If a child was bitten by a spider (or a snake, or a bat, or a shark, or whatever...), that child would get sick, then die. Then that child never grew up to pass on his (or her) genes to any children.

So if you consider the whole population of humans at that time in the past (as perhaps our 25,000 years ago), those people who were not afraid of spiders from birth onwards were more likely to get bitten and die before reproducing. But perhaps, over time, those people who were afraid stood a better chance of living and passing on their genes. New traits in our DNA happen when our DNA gets mutated by things like the natural radiation of the sun. So suppose that a genetic mutation occurred in a person that made that person genetically afraid of spiders. That person then stayed away from spiders, and lived, passing on this new gene to his or her children. This would make anyone who inherited the new gene more likely to live and have children, and so on. If you are into Biology, please realize that I am not talking about a Lamarkian fluke, but a real, genetic change.

To make a long story short, wouldn't it be interesting if we are actually afraid of snakes and spiders and even heights because of genetics, and not because we are neurotic?

Here is a real-life example of this: I was bitten by a Cottonmouth Snake three years ago. I was never afraid of snakes before, and never thought about the possibility that I could be bitten because I was not afraid. I dropped my car keys under the steps of my porch in Mississippi. I reached down through the steps, and the snake was laying there, was startled by my arm, and latched onto my left forearm, and bit me! I spent a long, long day in the Emergency Room, watching with horror as my bite area swelled enormously, and the actual bite area turned white and died. People can get anti-venom only once in a lifetime, so they were trying not to end up having to give me the anti-venom. After about ten hours, the swelling began to go down, and I did not have to get that icky shot, thank goodness. But think about this: If this had happened 25,000 years ago, my arm would have gotten gangrenous, which would have killed me. But since I was in the Emergency Room, I was given antibiotics, an IV for fluids, medicine to calm down the reaction- even pain medicine. If I had gone into shock, or needed the venom, I would have gotten it. I was in good hands. I have had to have plastic surgery on my arm, but at least I have an arm!

Anyway, here's the point: If I did have the gene for "fear of snakes", I would have never have stuck my arm down into a bunch of weeds without being really careful to check for a snake! And if I was a younger woman, any children I would have had would also never been afraid of snakes, either...

I apologize for the length of this question. I just wanted everyone to be sure to understand what I am asking...which is: Are our phobias, at their roots, inherited genetic responses, rather than neuroses? (I know that one can conquer the fears- what I am referring to is that initial, root fear.)

Love to you all,

Jaianniah This is a picture of a Brown Recluse...from http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTBk3_yixD5JmqRY8lkFrvbqV8dmWx3PWzN7r95F7BgvngEg3G8