arachnophobia psychology Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/arachnophobia Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/arachnophobia Written by Karen Sottosanti Karen Sottosanti is a writer and editor who works in educational publishing. Karen Sottosanti Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Jul 16, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents arachnophobia, extreme fear of spiders. The word arachnophobia is derived from the Greek arakhnē, meaning “spider” or “spiderweb,” and from the Greek phobos, meaning “fear.” Arachnophobia is one of the most common phobias worldwide. More women than men tend to experience arachnophobia. Arachnophobia is classified as a specific phobia in the general category of anxiety disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (2013; DSM-5). Fear of spiders is considered a phobia when it becomes an irrational, persistent mental preoccupation and when it interferes with daily functioning and social activities. Arachnophobia can prevent individuals from taking part in ...(100 of 529 words)

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