>>104932009Because you were more likely to die by a snake bite globally than one of the large cats. These core fears also vary from region to region and race to race. I bet we could find some pretty interesting results if we asked black Americans if they would fear large cats.
Fun fact a large number fear all non-domesticated animals. Think about why that might be.>>104931979Bear with me, I forgot the proper term and google fu is failing me. Your brain has made certain associations with the world and life around you to keep you alive. You make more of these through your own life and the most active ones enforcer old ones or make a foundation for new ones to be passed onto your offspring. If they are not reinforced they dull away. Let's say you see a new animal you have never seen before. If it has any base similarities between what you have assigned potential danger to you will address it as such even if it's potentially harmless. However, if your own experience has been to the contrary you weaken these automatic response. Keep in mind this all nature, nurture also plays a part. If you were raised around them and show the contrary the automatic responses weaken. Also note, even when replies are revered in human culture, it isn't because of their kindness. It's because they are something to be worshiped out of fear.
Again it's a prebuilt association with most humans. Snakes were so fundamentally dangerous to our species anything showing similar traits immediately is put into the same category as them to keep you alive.
>raptors and other birds of prey give me this feeling but not lizards.My use of "cold" eye might have been misleading. When it comes to human psychology, the eyes are arguably the most important element when interacting with any living thing. I can go into detail but I am out of text. There is a ton of history behind it and special cases when it comes to certain animals, people, and the unknown. Especially the unknown.
