Humans universally dislike spiders, but a new study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln reveals just how strongly we avoid even glancing at them. Researchers found that people will actively choose to look at almost anything else—including other arachnids and insects—rather than focus on spiders. This isn’t just about fear; it’s a deeply ingrained visual avoidance mechanism.
The Experiment: Forced Spider Stares
Nearly 120 participants were subjected to side-by-side images of spiders, scorpions, butterflies, and other arthropods. Eye-tracking technology recorded exactly where their gaze went, how long they lingered, and how often they returned to the images. The study wasn’t about testing phobias; it was about quantifying the raw, instinctive aversion to spiders. Participants also completed a survey to measure their overall attitudes towards spiders.
Key Findings: Spiders Get Ignored
The data was clear: people spent significantly less time looking at spiders compared to other creatures. The four metrics used—dwell time, first fixation time, first run dwell time, and run count—all showed a consistent pattern of avoidance.
“Findings suggest a general avoidance of spider images in the presence of other non-spider arthropod images… Across all metrics, there was a tendency to record longer first fixation times, shorter dwell times, and lesser run counts toward images of spiders.”
This suggests that the aversion isn’t just emotional; it’s built into how our brains process visual information.
Hairless Spiders Are Slightly Better
Interestingly, the study also found that hairless spiders received more attention than their hairy counterparts. This aligns with previous research suggesting that certain spider features trigger stronger disgust responses. The implication is that visual cues associated with “creepiness” drive avoidance.
The Unexpected Twist: Looking for Clues
Researchers were surprised to see participants often scanning for details suggesting the presence of multiple spiders, even if only one was visible. This suggests a heightened vigilance for potential threats, as if our brains instinctively assume more spiders mean more danger.
Jumping Spiders Get a Pass (Sometimes)
Some species received slightly more tolerance. Smaller jumping spiders, especially those with large, human-like eyes or bright colors, generated less aversion. This likely stems from our tendency to anthropomorphize animals with features resembling our own.
“When spider images are the only option to attend to, there seems to be a greater bias to the more human-like arachnid.”
Why This Matters: Beyond Disgust
This study isn’t just about confirming that people dislike spiders. The findings have real-world implications for science communication, conservation, and phobia treatment. By understanding which spider traits trigger avoidance, researchers can develop strategies to improve public engagement with arachnids, promote conservation efforts, and design more effective exposure therapies for arachnophobia. This research highlights that even in a controlled setting, the human instinct to avoid spiders is overwhelmingly dominant.
