Problem
Fear of insects
Other Names:
Entomophobia Nature:
Entomophobia, sometimes known as insectophobia, is a specific phobia characterized by an excessive or unrealistic fear (disgust) of one or more classes of insect, and classified as a phobia by the DSM-5. More specific cases include katsaridaphobia (fear of cockroaches), melissophobia (fear of bees), myrmecophobia (fear of ants), and lepidopterophobia (fear of moths and butterflies). One book claims 6% of all US inhabitants have this phobia.
Entomophobia may develop after the person has had a traumatic experience with the insect(s). It may develop early or later in life and is quite common among animal phobias. Typically, one has a fear of one specific type of insect. However, in some cases, this fear may encompass all organisms of the phylum Arthropoda. Entomophobia leads to behavioral changes: the person with entomophobia will avoid situations where they may encounter a specific type of insect. Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered an effective treatment.
Broader Problems:
Phobia Related Problems:
Arachnophobia Aggravates:
Insect pestsCruelty to insectsInsecticides as pollutantsThreatened species of InsectaDiseases of beneficial insectsDefoliation of insect breeding areas Values:
Fear Subject(s):
Invertebrates → InsectsRelated UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
E: Emanations of other problems Date of last update
23.10.2019 – 18:07 CEST