Good point, Jazzy--
I reckon the same would go for snakes, rats, a variety of bugs, arachnids, and other creepy-crawlies, and...
people...of different cultures/backgrounds than ourselves.

I think knowledge is the key here. We're not afraid of
vacuum cleaners because we understand "what makes them tick". I know that, once a person understands, for
example, that snakes aren't slimy, and that they virtually always prefer fleeing rather than fighting humans, then the person's fears are eased. Same would follow in most situations, but I don't think I would ever be able to
have a hissing cockroach run up and down my arm, no matter
how much I learned about them!