Psychology students faced their fears when The Creepy Crawly Show came to College

31 October 2014

The Creepy Crawly Show visited Psychology students in The Sixth Form College to help them understand more about commonly feared animals.

Psychology students have been learning about what makes animals fearful, research suggests that animals that possess certain characteristics such as ugliness, sliminess and speed are more fear provoking. However our students overcame their fears by holding Madagascan hissing cockroaches, corn snakes, a carpet python, a bird eating tarantula and lizards. Tammy from The Creepy Crawly Show explained how these animals often have a bad reputation due to their portrayal in nursery rhymes and films which increases our fear of them.

Students enjoyed the rare chance to see these animals up close and allow them to gain a better understanding of the characteristics that could make them fear provoking. Psychology student Keira McKevitt, who also studies, Fine Art, Textiles and Film Studies said of the experience, “Amazing!! I overcame my fears and have new favourite animals.” Fellow Psychology student Kaleb Alcock, who also studies Chemistry, Biology and Geography A Level added, “The animals were so impressive - I absolutely loved every second of it!”