Zoophobia

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Zoophobia or animal phobia may have one of two closely related meanings: a generic term for the class of specific phobias to particular animals,[1] or an irrational fear or even simply dislike of any non-human animals.

Examples of specific zoophobias would be entomophobias, such as a fear of spiders (arachnophobia), snakes (ophidiophobia) or bees (apiphobia). See the article at -phobia for the list of various phobias. Sigmund Freud mentioned that an animal phobia is one of the most frequent psychoneurotic diseases among children.[1]

Zoophobia should not be confused with sensible fear of dangerous or threatening animals, such as the fear of wild bears or venomous snakes.

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[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Nandor Fodor, Frank Gaynor, "Freud: Dictionary of Psychoanalysis", 2004: ISBN 0760753016 (initial publ. 1950), article "Zoophobia, infantile", pp. 205-206