#Microblog Monday 361: Phobias
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I read about an AR app that gets people over their fear of spiders by using exposure therapy with a virtual spider.
What a cool first step—because I doubt it’s the final step… even though the app apparently has ten steps. It asks questions to see how comfortable you are before moving you up or down a level. Though I wonder how it translates into fears of real world spiders. Your brain knows that it’s an AR spider, so while you may grow more comfortable, is it enough to translate into calm if there was an actual spider in your home?
I would love to see this expanded for other fears.
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5 comments
You are right. Knowing it’s AR – it is easy. But in real can I get over my fear of jumping from a cliff? I don’t think so. But what I think is cool is these kind of apps that have come to rescue. Maybe it makes the process easier for some folks.
Hope you are well, Mel. Been a long time!
I don’t think I would like the AR spider any more than a spider in real life, but I think getting used to something you know is fake is way different than the problem of IRL spiders — they are shifty and unpredictable and that is most of the problem. I am getting better with spiders outside, and I actually got to be better with jumping spiders because of a cute animated thing — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gBZVkQIniM, but scary big leggy crunchy body/hairy spiders in my house? NO THANK YOU. I didn’t park in the garage for a week after BRYCE saw a saucer-sized wolf spider on the wall by my car, and I didn’t use the lamp in my office for a month after a crunchy shiny black spider was speeding around by that bookshelf and near the lamp. Just NEAR it. 🙂
I wonder how the AR thing would do with a fear of random scary murders in public places?
I also like to think it could be transferred to other fears too. But like Parul, I find it hard to see how it would get me over the fear of heights. I mean, I’m fine in an aeroplane. Or in a high-rise building as long as I’m not looking down! lol Maybe I need to watch more of those Youtube Gopro filmed videos of people who jump off cliffs? lol
I’ll just keep my phobia of spiders, thank you very much. 🤪
We’re having a debate about my unwritten contract with spiders. I’m not scared of them, but I don’t want them in the house. So, I have an agreement (that they may or may not know about – I announce it every now and then) that I won’t bother them outside, but the penalty for crossing my threshold is death. Sorry.
Anyway, I don’t think you’re going to get over crickets, with or without an app.