Zoophobia

[Thurlor]

I'll start off by making it clear that I don't suffer from any phobias and thus find it rather difficult to understand them. I do have a tendency to dislike and avoid painful stimuli but I'd hardly classify my responses as phobic.

Anyway, recently I started reading about zoophobia and I started wondering why humans aren't also feared. Aren't we also animals? Are people so arrogant that even in our sub/un-conscious minds we still completely distance ourselves from ourselves? Or, is it something fundamentally 'wrong' with phobics in general or zoophobes specifically?

I once knew a woman who claimed to suffer from androphobia yet she wasn't afraid of men in drag. This made me think she actually had an issue with men's clothing rather than the men (or a combination of the two).

The thing I find most frustrating is not my lack of understanding regarding phobias. Instead it's the phobics that refuse to try and overcome their phobias or use them as excuses to avoid day to day activities that frustrate me the most. My ex with her arachnophobia was the worst for this.

Not sure where this is going. Was just wondering what others thought regarding phobias.

 

[BigApplePi]

Anyway, recently I started reading about zoophobia and I started wondering why humans aren't also feared. Aren't we also animals? Are people so arrogant that even in our sub/un-conscious minds we still completely distance ourselves from ourselves? Or, is it something fundamentally 'wrong' with phobics in general or zoophobes specifically?

How about such people find animal behavior random and thus threatening while they've had comfortable experiences and protection from humans?

I once knew a woman who claimed to suffer from androphobia yet she wasn't afraid of men in drag. This made me think she actually had an issue with men's clothing rather than the men (or a combination of the two).

Maybe a fear of potential sexual aggressiveness.

the thing I find most frustrating is not my lack of understanding regarding phobias. Instead it's the phobics that refuse to try and overcome their phobias or use them as excuses to avoid day to day activities that frustrate me the most. My ex with her arachnophobia was the worst for this.

Not sure where this is going. Was just wondering what others thought regarding phobias.

I once had a girlfriend with absolute fear of elevators (not the best thing in New York City) yet she would ride the subway. I couldn't find any breakthrough. She was seeing a therapist. She herself told me it could be manipulative. I believe the reasons behind this could be very complex. One can fit their entire life around a phobia and thus create a persona with it. Not subject to reason.

The cure I read somewhere is gradual exposure under controlled circumstances by therapy. That's all I know.

 

[Thurlor]

How about such people find animal behavior random and thus threatening while they've had comfortable experiences and protection from humans?

I'm not so sure that it is that simple. A new-born kitten might exhibit seemingly random behaviour but I would hardly consider it capable of being a threat. Yet zoophobes find all animals frightening (unless they are partial zoophobes). Besides, if threat were the issue then I should be able to point out to any zoophobe that humans are more likely to be harmed or injured my other humans (as compared to some random animal) and they should become more phobic to humans. I don't think this is the case.

Maybe a fear of potential sexual aggressiveness.

I am talking about the same men. When they are dressed as men she feared them, but when they were in drag she didn't.

The cure I read somewhere is gradual exposure under controlled circumstances by therapy. That's all I know.

I believe that is desensitisation though I may be wrong.

 

[BigApplePi]

I'm not so sure that it is that simple. A new-born kitten might exhibit seemingly random behaviour but I would hardly consider it capable of being a threat.

How about the kitten is a threat because it could not be taken care of and would come to harm?

Yet zoophobes find all animals frightening (unless they are partial zoophobes). Besides, if threat were the issue then I should be able to point out to any zoophobe that humans are more likely to be harmed or injured my other humans (as compared to some random animal) and they should become more phobic to humans. I don't think this is the case.

You got me there. Maybe it's just a conditioned response to a forgotten experience now compounded by more bad experiences? Or what about a fear of repressed sadistic desires to harm animals? I'm just winging it here.

I am talking about the same men. When they are dressed as men she feared them, but when they were in drag she didn't.

Again. Conditioned response.

I believe that is desensitisation though I may be wrong.

You said the right word. We need to call in a professional here.

The girl I mentioned who was afraid of elevators ... at that time I wanted to "save" her. Looking back maybe I wanted to save myself ... being so shy and afraid of people though not bad enough to call it a phobia.

 

[Base groove]

Besides, if threat were the issue then I should be able to point out to any zoophobe that humans are more likely to be harmed or injured my other humans (as compared to some random animal) and they should become more phobic to humans. I don't think this is the case.

Well this reasoning relies on people to behave inherently rational. What happens when a phobia is recognized as irrational? Are they able to effectively overcome their fear just because you explained to them that there are more dangerous things to worry about?

 

[Thurlor]

At the very least I expect them to acknowledge that they are wrong, never use their irrational fears as an excuse and actively try to overcome their reactions.

I don't know. Is that expecting too much?

 

[Variform]

Interesting case study :-)

Why would she not fear man wearing lady clothes. I think she is afraid of men, of something very manly, something typical male. A behavior she perceives in them. It is threatening.
Something that gets disarmed when the men wear women's clothes. That somehow disarms them, she cannot take them serious anymore. Men get a female aspect to them. That what makes a man a man is removed.

So, what is it? It can be anything typically associable to maleness. It is not the clothes themselves. What is a man fundamentally?

A man is a person who likes women. He is the person who would chase her because of who she is, a female.

It could be that she is afraid of men because she is afraid of herself, that she does not like to be chased by a man, be liked by men, be conquered by men and maybe even impregnated by men. It would not surprise me if she liked gay men a lot.

What is so bad about men? Her femininity. It is a form of self-hate. Men aren't the issue. I think she might have gender-related existential issues.

Call me Carl Gustav Variform :-)