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Fear Of Animals Scale

Do certain animals make your hair stand on end? Take this test to find out if you have 'zoophobia.'

Scott Travers, Ph.D.

By Scott Travers, Ph.D.

August 7, 2024

Scott Travers, Ph.D., is an American evolutionary biologist based at Rutgers University. His specialty areas include biodiversity, genomics, and herpetology. Scott's research has taken him to faraway places such as the remote jungles of Central America, the deserts of Africa, and the isolated islands of the South Pacific. He has discovered new species, expanded natural history museum collections, and, most importantly, assisted in global conservation efforts. His favorite animals are snakes and his favorite snake is the green tree python.

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Zoophobia is an intense and persistent fear of animals. This fear can be generalized to all animals or specific to certain types—such as dogs, snakes or birds. People with zoophobia may experience severe anxiety or panic attacks when encountering or even thinking about animals. This phobia can lead to avoidance behaviors, such as refusing to visit places where animals might be present, which can significantly impact daily life and limit activities and experiences.

Understanding your level of zoophobia is essential for managing its impact on your life. Recognizing the severity and specific triggers of your fear can help you identify how it influences your behavior and decisions. This awareness can guide you in seeking appropriate interventions, such as therapy or gradual exposure techniques, to reduce your anxiety and improve your ability to interact with animals and participate in related activities.

The animal subscale of the Phobic Stimuli Response Scale is a valuable tool for measuring the intensity and characteristics of an individual's fear of animals. By using the scale, you can better understand the basis of your phobia and gauge where your triggers lie. In turn, you can work towards managing and coping with these triggers, which can help you feel both prepared and resilient in any future encounter with animals.

You can take this test here. Follow all of the steps to receive your results.

References: Cutshall, C. & Watson, D. (2004). The Phobic Stimuli Response Scales: A new self-report measure of fear. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 42, 1193-1201. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2003.08.003

Step 1: Rate the following statements based on how much you agree with them on a scale of strongly disagree to strongly agree.

1. Rats and mice really bother me.

2. I do not like worms.

3. I would never hold a spider.

4. I would not like to hold a snail or slug.

5. I really dislike handling slimy things.

6. I would hate to touch a cockroach.

7. I would not like to hold a lizard.

8. It would bother me to hold a snake.

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Step 2: Enter your age, gender, region, and first name so we can provide you with a detailed report that compares your test scores with people similar to you.

What is your age?

What is your gender?

What region of the world do you live in?

What is your first name?

Step 3: Check to make sure you've provided answers to all of the statements/questions above. Once you've done that, click the button below to send your responses to Awake Therapy's Lead Psychologist, Mark Travers, Ph.D. He will provide you with an overview of how you scored relative to others (all answers are anonymized and confidential to protect users' privacy). He can also answer any follow-up questions you may have.