Why are children afraid of snakes

Many adults have an aversion to snakes - and it seems that part of this reaction is formed in childhood because of exactly how adults talk about snakes around a child.

The researchers, who worked with children around preschool age, tested how children "in their heads" feel about snakes: whether they consider them closer to "normal animals", to people, or more like something "inanimate/alien". In the experiment, parents looked at materials about snakes together with their child, and the children were read a short story. In some versions of the text the snake was described more "humanly" (with mentioning thoughts and feelings), in other versions it was described more "as an object" (impersonally, without emotions).

The following emerged:

• if adults used negative evaluations (e.g., scaring, calling names, speaking with disgust), children more often began to perceive snakes as something "far away" from people;

• a similar effect was produced by depersonalising descriptions in the story - when the snake is not presented as a living creature with its own needs, but as an 'it'.

That said, the study has some good news: the authors found that it took very little to reduce "snake negativity." Even a brief introduction to snakes and a conversation about what they need to live (habitat, food, role in nature) can work as a kind of "inoculation" against prejudice. Other work shows a similar effect: stories about snakes and additional information can reduce fear and increase willingness to help these animals.

Why it matters Snakes play a prominent role in ecosystems, but because of their poor reputation, public support for their protection is often weak. If attitudes are formed at an early age, adult tone and simple explanations can make a real difference in whether a child perceives a snake as a "horror-horror" or as a normal animal that also needs a place in nature.