Ophidiophobia
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Ophidiophobia or Ophiophobia refers to the fear of snakes. It is also colloquially termed Snakephobia. It is one of the most common phobias, especially under the broader Zoophobia (animal phobias). A person suffering from Herpetophobia (Fear of Reptiles) is also likely to have a fear of snakes, though the reverse is not always true. Care must also be taken to differentiate people who do not like snakes or fear them for their venom or the inherent danger involved. A typical ophidiophobic would not only fear them when in live contact but also dreads to think about them or even see them on TV or in pictures.
The word comes from the Greek words "ophis" which refers to snakes and "phobia" meaning fear. Fear of snakes is much more prevalent than most animal phobias, partially due to the fact that snakes have been able to survive in almost all terrain from the jungles, to farm lands to urban areas. This allows a greater degree of interaction between these creatures and humans that come into contact.
The Freudian school of thought attributes the cause of Ophidiophobia, like most other phobias, to an incident in the person's childhood or the person's societal upbringing. For instance Christians, specifically Catholics often view the serpent as being an incarnation of evil and it is likely that such a viewpoint might be reinforced through media or any incident witnessed by them. Even in cultures where snakes are venerated like in Hinduism, some people have an irrational fear of snakes, most likely attributed to snake bites causing fatalities and/or witnessing a person in pain from such an injury.
The levels of ophidiophobia vary in degrees from person to person and depending on the situation. For instance an ophidiophobic who comes in close contact with a venomous snake might even faint or run in fright and when looking at a photo of a snake might in all probability just turn away their faces in disgust.
