@article{fdi:010092889,
  title = {{D}anger versus fear : a key to understanding biophobia},
  author = {{Z}eller, {K}. and {M}ouquet, {N}. and {G}arcia, {C}. and {D}ezecache, {G}uillaume and {M}aille, {A}. and {D}uboscq, {J}. and {M}orino, {L}. and {B}onnet, {X}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {1. {W}hich animals do people fear most, and why? {E}xploring animal fears in humans is crucial for understanding reactions in the face of danger, addressing both innate and learned determinants. {B}ecause of the central role they are thought to have played in primate evolution, most studies have focused on the fear of snakes. {O}ther studies that have looked at a wider range of animals have either focused on a limited number of species and/or sampled participants from a narrow range of geographical locations. 2. {T}o overcome these shortcomings, we developed an immersive online survey based on animal images matches, during which participants had to choose the animal they feared most. {W}ith responses from 17,353 participants from all continents, we were able to rank 184 species (mammals, reptiles, birds, arthropods and amphibians) on a fear scale. 3. {O}ur results showed that images of dangerous animals elicited frequent and rapid fear responses. {H}owever, danger alone was not sufficient to explain fear, as harmless animals also reached high fear scores. {F}ear responses varied with participants' age, geographical region of residence and level of declared biophobia. 4.{T}he discrepancy between actual levels of danger and declared fears in humans may be due to social transmission and increasing disconnection from natural environments. {T}his study highlights the need to consider a wide range of animal species to identify and understand people's fear of certain species, integrating the complex relationship between ecological danger and socio-cultural influences.},
  keywords = {biophobia ; fear of animals ; internet survey ; predators ; social transmission},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}eople and {N}ature},
  volume = {[{E}arly access]},
  numero = {},
  pages = {[13 p.]},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1002/pan3.70009},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010092889},
}