If you have insect phobiayou already know very well that it is not easy to face them. From snow-capped mountains to scorching deserts, insects are found almost everywhere: they constitute 90% of all existing animal species. It is estimated that there are 1.4 billion for every inhabitant of the Earth, and for 7% of humans they are a problem. It is not simple disgust or annoyance, but a specific phobia that is officially listed as anxiety disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders. It can cause hyperventilation, dry throat feeling, tachycardia and, in high intensity cases, it can detonate panic attacks.
A contextualized phobia
It is called irrational fear because logic is not enough to appease him, but it is not completely without reason. In fact, from an evolutionary point of view, it comes from a warning signal that the body sends through the behavioral immune system, to preventively keep us away from any possible “pathogenic threat.” Some insects actually are, many others are not: this is a very conservative risk reduction strategy. And when it triggers the phobia, I would say “too” conservative. If the common disgust of insects turns into panic, an instinctive reaction becomes a highly limiting problem.
This crossing of the threshold between normality and pathology can be significantly influenced by the social, environmental and educational contexts in which one grows up. In different cultures, insects take on contrasting symbolic meanings. Just by slightly changing latitude, they turn from good luck amulets into feared carriers of dirt and disease. Much also depends on the natural environment in which we grow: in tropical regions with great biodiversity, people become accustomed to the presence of a great diversity of insects, much more than in urbanized areas. And we must not ignore the role that the social context plays in the development of entomophobia.
When environmental education is contemplated in basic education, insects “run the risk” of even provoking astonishment and admiration. Likewise, activities such as gardening, hiking or simply playing in the park can reduce disgust towards these living beings. There are countries where they are eaten by tradition and others where they are being imposed on menus like the last one. gastronomic trend. As you can imagine, the latter also influences our perception: from being seen as a danger they become considered a source of energy and, depending on taste, a pleasure for the palate.
Cinema, augmented reality and mindfulness
If they had rights, insects would have already filed a strong lawsuit for defamation, starting with the many films and books that expose them. From The metamorphosis from Kafka to the numerous horror films starring spiders, giant wasps and killer ants, it is difficult to save his image. However, it is precisely from the world of cinema that a remedy against entomophobia could come: only 7 seconds of viewing Spiderman and Antman would reduce symptoms by 20%. This is stated by researchers from two Israeli universities (Ariel University and Bar-Ilan University) who have tested this possible therapy on 424 subjects, publishing the results in the magazine Frontiers in Psychiatry.
Now, they don’t intend to completely solve the problem with a night at the movies. What they intend is to mark a new direction in research on the positive exposure therapy. One that aims to reduce symptoms by familiarizing the fearful with the cause of their fear, but in a safe and fun context.
Following in the wake of this study, the option of augmented reality as a treatment for entomophobia. The use of this technology to alleviate insect phobias would consist of making those affected relive certain traumatic experiences in an immersive but non-physical way, and then process them with human specialists. And to start getting used to his presence, but virtually.
#Spiderman #augmented #reality #combat #insect #phobia
