Fear of frogs and toads is both a specific phobia, known simply as frog phobia or ranidaphobia (from Ranidae, the most widespread family of frogs), and a superstition common to the folkways of many cultures. Psychiatric specialty literature uses the simple term "fear of frogs" rather than any specialized term."Psychiatry Specialty Board Review for the DSM-IV" (1996) Psychology Press, p. 97 The term batrachophobia (fear of amphibians) has also been recorded in a 1953 psychiatric dictionary.Jacob Shatzky, Leland Earl Hinsie (1953) "Psychiatric Dictionary: With Encyclopedic Treatment of Modern Terms", Oxford University Press, "Fear of frogs"
Cultural beliefs Some cultures accord the sight of a frog as a bad omen. Other cultures regard the sight as a good omen. Portuguese shopkeepers use ceramic frogs to deter Roma people, and also serve as a marker of anti-Romani prejudice.
A common myth says that to touch frogs and toads may give one warts. A survey carried out by researchers from the Johannesburg Zoo have shown that in modern times old superstitions play a less significant role and modern children are more concerned whether frogs are venomous or harmless."What do kids think about Frogs?" , a Johannesburg Zoo article
As a phobia A phobia of frogs often begins after seeing frogs die violently. One case of severe fear of frogs has been described in Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry in 1983: a woman developed an extreme fear of frogs after a traumatic incident in which her lawn mower ran over a group of frogs and killed them.
See also List of phobias
References