Fear of spiders is one of the most vulgar phobia , affecting around a million people in the UK alone . But while most of us just find the eight - legged insects a footling unsettling , for some , the phobia can be debilitate . That ’s why the Zoological Society of London has created a course of study to help hoi polloi overcome their arachnophobia .
call theFriendly Spider Program , the four - hour class combines cognitive behavioral therapy , radical hypnosis , and playtime with actual spiders , and is designed specifically for people with intense arachnophobia . Above all , the program aim to rehabilitate the figure of speech of the wanderer , teach people that the immense majority of arachnids are not only harmless to human race , but good for the environment .
Dave Clarke , who helps track down the broadcast and is the London Zoo ’s Head of Invertebrate Conservation , knows they ’re oppose a scrap of an acclivitous battle . Arachnophobia is widespread and contagious : People tend to inherit it from near booster and category appendage when they ’re new . Plus , spiders have a major PR trouble — most books and movies do n’t precisely portray them in a confirming light . For everyCharlotte ’s Webthere ’s a terrific tarantula , poisonous Shelob , or arachnid plague to further fire citizenry ’s fears .
That ’s why Clarke , who once suffered from meek arachnophobia himself , desire to teach the great unwashed about the positive quality of spiders . He believes that by understanding the roots of their panic and coming fount - to - fount with harmless — and often amazingly cute — spider , people will clear there ’s nothing to be afraid of .
According toAtlas Obscura , the computer program has a pretty telling racecourse record . It ’s been operating for the last two X , and by the final stage of each program , the Brobdingnagian legal age of hoi polloi have overcome their fright enough to hold a wanderer . Though the platform does n’t guarantee success , theirwebsitenotes that “ 80 % of participant report that they now persist calm , convinced and relaxed when they encounter a wanderer . ”
“ spider are quite cuddly , too , once you get to roll in the hay them , ” Clarke explained toAtlas Obscura . “ We should be scream from the rooftops how fantastic it is to have spiders around . ”
[ h / t : Atlas Obscura ]
