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| - Main article: Phobias Arachnophobia is a specific phobia, an
abnormal fear of spiders. With an estimated half of all women,
and a quarter of all men in the United States[How to reference
and link to summary or text], it is among the most common of
phobias. The reactions of arachnophobics often seem irrational
to others (and sometimes to the sufferers themselves). People
with arachnophobia tend to feel uneasy in any area they believe
could harbor spiders or that has visible signs of their
presence, such as webs. If they see a spider they may not enter
the general vicinity until they have overcome the panic attack
that is often associated with their phobia. They may feel
humiliated if such episodes happen in the presence of peers or
family members. Arachnophobes will spare no effort to make sure
that their whereabouts are spider-free, hence reducing sharply
the risk of being bitten. Ar