Scientists trace rise in arachnophobia and fear of snakes directly to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

We write to you about a new study that has come out of the renowned scientific journal Au Naturel. 

Scientists for years have been baffled as to why the age group between 20-35 had such high rates of arachnophobia and ophidiophobia (fear of snakes). 

This groundbreaking study has traced this rise to the release of the 2002 cinematic adaption of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. 

Featuring a huge bloody snake, shit loads of spiders and a big boy called Aragog, scientists confidently believe that this was the catalyst for the surge in such phobias amongst this age group. 

The article offers no suggested antidotes to the phobias, but our own Pseudo Professor Zosima suggests watching Snakes on a Plane and channelling Samuel L.Jackson as a means to combat ophidiophobia. He’s unsure about arachnophobia. 

Future studies are going to look into the correlation between speeding fines and the consumption of the movie Speed. 

The peer review process is hoping to produce other suggestions for future research.