Friday, March 29, 2024
ADVT 
Hollywood

7-Second Of 'Spiderman' Clip Can Lower Spider Phobia

Darpan News Desk IANS, 24 Apr, 2019 07:31 PM

    As the Marvel Avenger Endgame premieres this week, researchers reveal that a mere seven-second viewing of a superhero movie like "Spiderman" can reduce your phobia about spiders by 20 per cent.


    Screening a seven-second excerpt of a spider scene from "Spiderman 2" film reduced participants' post-viewing spider phobia (arachnophobia) symptoms score relative to their pre-viewing score by 20 per cent.


    This cost-benefit efficacy was similarly obtained for ant phobia (myrmecophobia) when viewing a seven-second excerpt from the movie "Antman".


    "The results open a new direction in the efficacy of positive exposure which should be further considered. The findings suggest that a fun, available and in-vitro exposure may be very powerful," said Menachem Ben-Ezra from the School of Social Work at Ariel University.


    However, when participants were queried either about general insect phobia both pre- and post-viewing a seven second Marvel opening scene (common to all Marvel movies) or a seven second natural scene -- there were no significant symptom reductions for insect phobia.


    "This suggests that it was neither the calm (natural scene), nor the fun/fantasy associated with viewing a Marvel superhero movie, that was solely driving effects, but rather the specific exposure to ants and spiders in the context of a Marvel movie," the researchers noted.


    Professor Ben-Ezra and Yaakov Hoffman of Bar-Ilan University exposed 424 subjects to "Spiderman" and "Antman" movie excerpts to see if spider and ant phobic symptoms would decrease. The findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry.


    Exposure therapy for specific phobias (like ants and spiders) utilises neutral exposure to a phobic stimulus to counteract an irrational fear. As one is increasingly exposed to the phobic stimuli, one ceases to fear it.


    According to the researchers, superhero movies may have many beneficial psychological attributes.


    "Such movies not only help people feel better about themselves, they provide a contra to hectic and stressful lives by showing us the true underlying spirit of one confronting his/her fears," they noted.

    MORE Hollywood ARTICLES

    Freida Pinto Urges People To Act On Climate Change

    Ahead of the premiere of "Wild Edens: South Asia" documentary in India, actress Freida Pinto urged people to "focus on the planet before the effects of global warming become absolutely irreversible".

    Freida Pinto Urges People To Act On Climate Change

    John Stamos Posts Photo Getting Nick Jonas' Tattoo

    Actor John Stamos upped the stakes in his prank battle with Nick Jonas, as he posted a photograph of himself seemingly getting a tattoo of the singer's face.

    John Stamos Posts Photo Getting Nick Jonas' Tattoo

    Kim Makes Online Appeal To Help Rehouse Ex-Prisoner

    Kim Makes Online Appeal To Help Rehouse Ex-Prisoner
    Reality TV star Kim Kardashian has issued a plea on social media after her deal to rehouse a former prisoner fell through.

    Kim Makes Online Appeal To Help Rehouse Ex-Prisoner

    Justin Bieber, Hailey Spotted Having A 'Showdown'

    Star couple Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin looked tense as they appeared to argue in a park amid reports that their marriage is on the rocks.

    Justin Bieber, Hailey Spotted Having A 'Showdown'

    Indo-Canadian YouTube Star Lilly Singh Gets Her Own Late-Night Talk Show

    Canadian-born Singh will replace Carson Daly as the host of NBC's late night talk show. The show will be re-titled "A Little Late with Lilly Singh" and will launch in September,

    Indo-Canadian YouTube Star Lilly Singh Gets Her Own Late-Night Talk Show

    Michael Jackson Impersonator Defends King Of Pop

    Michael Jackson Impersonator Defends King Of Pop
    Las Vegas-based Firestone believes MJ is innocent and it's wrong to discredit anyone's work until all claims are proven.

    Michael Jackson Impersonator Defends King Of Pop