why are (most) humans more grossed out by insects than mammals, fish, etc?
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Many bugs are venomous, disease vectors, or are found eating rotting things (which are disease vectors too). As with anything consistently dangerous, Humans had an evolutionary reason to avoid all bugs on principle. While this doesn’t manifest as a universal alarm or disgust response, it does appear as a predisposition for it.
Also, humans have a “cute” response, a natural inclination to like traits that remind us of babies. Big eyes, big heads, round shape, soft hair, otherwise human features, etc. Bugs tic none of those boxes, and are about as un-empathy-inspiring in appearance as a living animals can be. Again, this is not a hard and fast rule, but the general trend is that people don’t feel empathy towards bugs.
Disgust + danger + no empathy = fear.
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