Why are we afraid of things?

Question: Why are we afraid of things!?

I've never had a bad experience with snakes or anything, I've never been bitten or hurt by one!. Yet, yesterday was my friends party and the man gave a talk on snakes and he asked us if we wanted to hold it or touch it, I touches it but I couldn't hold it, I was too afraid!. No one had been bitten or hurt and everyone else held it, so I knew it was harmless, I just wouldn't hold it, and matters weren't made better by my friend who said 'there's always a first time' I kept on telling myself, it won't hurt you, It's harmless but I just couldn't bring myself to hold it!.
Why though!? I've never had a bad experience with a snake!? why was I so afraid!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

snakes are stereotypically portrayed as dangerous and something to avoid!. even though you've never personally had a bed experience with snakes, i'm sure you've heard horror stories, on the news or through friends or even on a soap opera!. Fear is not a bad thing!. so long as its not affecting your day-to-day life, and unless you are a vet or a park ranger or something, lets face it a fear of snakes is not, then its nothing to worry about!. it does not show weakness, it shows intelligence, when you are afraid of something you know could harm you without needing previous experience to teach you this!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

because you hear all these attacks with snakes and that in the news and stuff but there is loads of them which are harmless i touched a corn snake before but i wasn't allowed to hold it i was young i thinkWww@QuestionHome@Com

It is hard wired into our genetic code!. No shame in it, just 1,000 years ago your ancestors would have been soiling themselves and running for the hills!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

without fear our ancestors mightve become extinct due to not fearing creatures capable of killing them

fear was essential to survival and has been hard-wired into our DNAWww@QuestionHome@Com

It is the collective unconscious!.

Inherited fear!.!.!. in our DNA!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think because those things are not common to us!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I am not afraid!. Why are you!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

If you want to understand the instiWww@QuestionHome@Com

Because of your love up on ur Health & Mind!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

creepy huh!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Because we are human beings, and we all have our fears!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Because we don't understand them!.Www@QuestionHome@Com