Likely enough the instinctive reaction to spiders goes way back into our evolutionary past.
One study that I recently read about, which examined innate fear reactions in babies, concluded that many innate fears probably developed a few million years ago. We can overcome the phobias, but it may take some doing!
I had an acute fear of spiders for most of my life, and still get a start if I see one on me. What's really funny is that my fear of spiders finally got sorted out completely by chance. I was once learning Talmud with my rabbi when I spotted a wolf spider making its way across the table on which we were studying. I started to say something, but the Rav also noticed it. Now, wolf spiders are large and have a painful bite, so I expected he'd use a broom or something and try to get it out the door. Instead, he took a piece of paper and put it down near the spider. "Here little sweetie, you just climb onboard and I'll take you some place safe! There you go, sweetie!" The spider climbed aboard and was escorted out the front door and into a flower pot.
Now, whenever I see a spider, I think "Well hello little sweetie!" and smile at the memory.
