3. Negative experiences
Negative experiences are one of the key triggers that could lead to the development of a phobia. For instance, if you were bitten by a spider as a young child then you may develop arachnophobia due to the event. In the same way, some people could develop a fear of long words due to past experiences. An extreme example would be a strict teacher who physically abuses students whenever they fail to pronounce or spell out a long word.
More common situations in which parents pressure their children to excel at spelling bees and other related activities could also lead to the development of a fear of long words. If the phobia is in fact due to a traumatic experience then psychologists can resolve it by helping the patient access their repressed memories and come to terms with them.