Eve’s Curse: Snakes, Fear, and the Gendered Roots of Phobia
“Like mother, like daughter” is a phrase we’ve all heard before, often used to describe how a mother and daughter might share similar appearances, talents, or interests. How deep do those similarities go? Could they extend to something like fear? Research conducted by Georg W. Alpers and a team of researchers in Germany explores the connection between mothers’ fear of snakes and how it influences their daughters’ fear responses. The study suggests that not only do mothers’ fears impact their daughters, but their gender beliefs. Specifically, how conservative or strict they are about traditional gender roles can also play a role in shaping the level of fear a daughter experiences. This research is important because it is one of a few studies that examine how gender role beliefs may influence emotional responses in children via direct observation and experimentation. It is important to clarify that the study does not suggest a direct connection between fear of snakes and gender beliefs. Instead, both fear and beliefs were studied to better understand how emotional patterns and social values can be passed from mother to daughter. There is already evidence showing that anxiety disorders and phobias, like the fear of snakes, are more common in women than in men. While several theories attempt to explain this, one interesting explanation is the error theory, which argues that it is more costly for women to take risks because it could endanger both their survival and that of their offspring. This connection between fear and gender roles is a key piece of the puzzle when it comes to understanding how phobias develop, and this study helps clarify that relationship.
Research Methods and Materials
The study consisted of 38 daughters and their mothers. Daughters’ ranged from 6 to 10 years old with the average being 8, and mothers’ ranged from 27 to 52 years old with the average being 40. The majority of the mothers reported that they spend most of the time with their children, with the average being 7 hours per day. The daughters completed multiple questionnaires. The daughters’ anxiety levels were measured using the Phobia Questionnaire for Children (PHOKI), and their fear of snakes was assessed with the Snake Anxiety Questionnaire (SNAQ). Snakes were used in this study because fear of snakes is one of the most common and well-documented specific phobias, particularly among women, and provides a consistent and measurable way to study fear responses. The Children’s Sex Role Inventory (CSRI) was used to evaluate the daughters’ identification with gender roles. Lastly, gender stereotypes were assessed using the Gender-Stereotyped Attitudes Scale for Children (GASC). The Behavioral Approach Test (BAT) measured avoidance behaviour by having daughters approach a snake in a transparent box. As they progressed, they rated their fear level from 0 to 10. The action inference paradigm (AIP) was used to assess subconscious gender stereotypes. In this task, children helped Santa distribute stereotypical toys to a girl and a boy. The mothers also completed multiple questionnaires. The mothers’ anxiety was measured using the Fear Survey Schedule (FSS). Trait and state anxiety were evaluated using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and fear of snakes was measured with the Snake Anxiety Questionnaire (SNAQ). The Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) was used to assess mothers’ gender-related self-concept. Gender stereotypes were measured with the Child-Rearing Sex-Role Attitude Scale (CRSRAS). For subconscious gender stereotypes, the Gender-Career Implicit Association Test (IAT) was used.
Results
The study found that both state anxiety (temporary anxiety) and trait anxiety (general anxiety) in mothers were positively related to their fear of snakes, meaning the more anxious the mothers were, the more they feared snakes. Additionally, mothers who identified more with masculine traits had lower levels of trait anxiety, and those with more conservative gender stereotypes were more likely to fear snakes. For the daughters, general fearfulness (measured by PHOKI) was linked to a specific fear of snakes, with those more fearful overall also being more afraid of snakes. The daughters who reported a higher fear of snakes showed more avoidance behaviour when confronted with a real snake. Furthermore, the study revealed that mothers’ fear of snakes was positively correlated with their daughters’ fear, and maternal implicit gender stereotypes (unconscious gender beliefs) were linked to higher fear levels in the daughters. A regression analysis showed that daughters’ fear ratings and their avoidance behaviour were significantly predicted by their self-reported fear of snakes, and maternal gender stereotypes were a significant predictor of daughters’ fear of snakes, while maternal fear of snakes was not. Overall, the study highlighted the connection between both mothers’ and daughters’ anxiety and fear of snakes, with mothers’ gender stereotypes playing a significant role in influencing their daughters’ fear responses.
Discussion
The results suggest that both mothers’ anxiety and their fear of snakes are significantly related to their daughters’ fear responses, highlighting that fear can be passed down through both direct behaviour and implicit beliefs. Specifically, mothers who exhibited higher levels of state and trait anxiety were more likely to have daughters who also feared snakes. Moreover, the study found that mothers’ conservative gender role beliefs were linked to their daughters’ heightened fear, indicating that societal views on gender can influence children’s emotional development. While the results are reliable given the use of established measurement tools like the STAI and SNAQ, a limitation of the study is the small sample size, which may affect the generalizability of the findings. However, the study provides valuable insight into the impact of gender stereotypes on children’s fear responses, which could inform future interventions for addressing fear and anxiety disorders, particularly those influenced by gender norms.
Conclusion
This study is essential as it explores the connection between mothers’ emotional traits, their gender role beliefs, and their daughters’ fear responses, providing evidence of how parental influence extends beyond direct behavioural modelling to include implicit societal beliefs. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm these findings and to explore how these dynamics may affect other phobias or emotional responses. The findings open doors for future research into the role of parental gender beliefs in shaping children’s emotional development and offer valuable insights into how gender stereotypes may contribute to mental health issues. This research is significant because it highlights the broader impact of societal gender norms on emotional health and opens up potential pathways for addressing these issues in therapeutic and educational settings.
References
Freepik. (n.d.). Cute mother protects her child from being chased by a snake [Vector graphic]. Freepik.https://www.freepik.com/premium-vector/cute-mother-protects-her-child-from-being-chased-by-snake_390790053.htm
Gerdes, A. B., Fraunfelter, L., Braband, M., & Alpers, G. W. (2022). Girls’ stuff? Maternal gender stereotypes and their daughters’ fear. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 741348. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.741348
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