Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A long, legless reptile that is often associated with fear and danger. In the context of psychology, a snake can represent a stimulus that triggers immediate fear responses in humans.
Related terms
Fight-or-flight response: This refers to our body's automatic reaction when faced with a perceived threat, like a snake. It prepares us to either confront the danger or run away from it.
The part of our brain responsible for processing emotions such as fear. In this case, upon seeing the snake, the amygdala quickly activates a fear response before conscious awareness.
Unconscious processing: Our brain can process information without conscious awareness. In this situation, our unconscious mind identifies the snake as potentially dangerous before we consciously recognize it.