Internet Could Be Worsening Our Fear of Small Holes, Psychologists Say

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When some people look at clusters of small holes, like those seen in a lotus seed pod or honeycomb, they are suddenly and inexplicably filled with an unpleasant, skin-crawling feeling. Turns out, the internet could be feeding this unofficial phobia. A series of experiments has now shown that online discussions on 'trypophobia' – or the fear of small holes – could be partly driving the common phenomenon. In a survey of 283 people aged 19 to 22, a team of psychologists at the University of Essex and the University of Suffolk found that a quarter of trypophobic individuals had never...