In my informative speech, I will be presenting a discussion of the psychic fear of spider-like insects. I selected this topic because arachnophobia is a panic disorder of psychology since the fear of spiders does not respond to a real danger but is an acquired reaction. It is significant to mention that statistics indicate that one in five inhabitants on earth has arachnophobia, and the figure is even higher among the female half (Mishkind et al., 2017, p. 2). There are three points I would like to address in my presentation:
- Reasons for arachnophobia, since experts are still not confident about the causes of arachnophobia. However, there are several theories, and evolutionary psychologists have proposed one of the most common ones. This perspective assumes that arachnophobia was a means of survival for ancient humans (Ore et al., 2020). Since most spiders are venomous, fear of arachnids may have enhanced human survival and reproduction potential. Other psychologists argue that many animals, from tigers to crocodiles, were more probable threats to ancient people (Ore et al., 2020). However, the phobias of these animals are relatively less widespread. Consequently, these psychologists consider arachnophobia based on cultural ideas about the nature of arachnids (Mishkind et al., 2017). In addition, if people have had traumatic experiences with spiders, such as a bite, there is a chance that they will have a higher possibility of developing arachnophobia.
- Symptoms of arachnophobia, since they may appear even in childhood or during adolescence. Nevertheless, there are cases when the disease manifests itself in adults. Accordingly, typical signs are dizziness, trembling, sweating, a feeling of losing control, and palpitations. Moreover, arachnophobia is a rather dangerous disease; the development of a mental illness leads to a chronic stage, nervous disorders, severe stress, strokes, and heart attacks (Mishkind et al., 2017). Therefore, if one or more symptoms of the disease appear, it is advisable to consult a psychologist or psychotherapist.
- Methods of phobia control and treatment, arachnophobia is most often treated with therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral methods. Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on eliminating the negative automatic thoughts associated with the object or situation being feared, replacing them with more rational thoughts (Ore et al., 2020). Significantly, virtual reality therapy, in which a person with a phobia is exposed to a virtual image of spiders, can operate in the same way as the older technique of gradually exposing the client to live spiders. In some cases, antidepressants or sedatives may also be used to deal with arachnophobia.
It is also essential to indicate the sources used in the speech. An article in the World Journal of Engineering by Ore et al. (2020) states that almost 50% of the surveyed children aged 6-10 had a fear of insects. In 40%, it manifested itself after visual or tactile contact with arthropods. However, the problem gradually disappeared as children became older without the assistance of a specialist. In addition, the article by Mishkind et al. (2017), published in Current Psychiatry Reports, states that one of the most successful methods of treating the disease is systematic desensitization. Therefore, it is a method of teaching relaxation techniques and then counteracting people’s fears from minor anxiety to the strongest.
The speech can be started by attracting the audience’s attention through a question. Before I begin my speech, I want to know how many of you had a situation when you or your friends were afraid of spiders? This is because I had many stories when my friends changed their behavior under the influence of fear and panic during interacting with insects. I would end my speech with a strong final positive idea. The overcoming of phobia requires time and desire, but it allows a person to live fully and experience all the joys of life.
References
Mishkind, M. C., Norr, A. M., Katz, A. C., & Reger, G. M. (2017). Review of virtual reality treatment in psychiatry: Evidence versus current diffusion and use. Current Psychiatry Reports, 19(11), 1-8. Web.
Ore, J., Pacheco, A., Roque, E., Reyes, A., & Pacheco, L. (2020). Augmented reality for the treatment of arachnophobia: Exposure therapy. World Journal of Engineering, 18(4), 566-572. Web.