For example, ladybugs and cockroaches are both beetle-like in appearance but far fewer people are afraid of ladybugs, house centipedes and caterpillars are often the same size but people are more creeped out by the centipedes, and butterflies and moths are super similar but people are grossed out by moths and find butterflies pretty. Is this just socialization or are there common features we generally don’t like?
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I think it’s social conditioning. I don’t have a ELI5 scientific answer for you but I am terrified of ladybugs (a ladybug infestation is horrific sight… also they stink) and I find moths and butterflies equally creepy, even though butterflies are objectively pretty.
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