Scared of clown which phobia

But why are people afraid of clowns? How did the modern-day jester become a scary Halloween costume and movie icon? Having a clinical phobia of clowns is rare, but it does exist. For most people, a fear of clowns is probably a combination of human psychology, mixed signals and pop culture. Phobias can cause panic attacks, sweating and nausea. There are many types of phobias and many different triggers.

McAndrew , a professor of psychology at Knox College, adds that clowns have a long history of being seen as suspicious. As David Kiser, director of talent for Ringling Bros. However, while many people are apprehensive or fearful of clowns, both Nader and McAndrew agree that someone having an actual phobia of clowns, a.

Rarely does this fear ever cause a person to experience a disruption in their lifestyle or ability to do things. McAndrew, for one, chalks it up to human nature. For those infected with the panic, the monsters typically pounce with mammoth feet as high-pitched, almost-joyful squeals emanate from their frightful noses. Scarier still, these creatures tend to travel in tight clusters, often arriving in the same manner.

Postal Service? By definition, an irrational fear of clowns is known as coulrophobia, with the prefix "coulro" coming from the ancient Greek word for "one who goes on stilts. Nader says he only rarely sees people with the disorder, however, coulrophobia is common enough to warrant at least one study, conducted by the University of Sheffield in England in In general, people tend to fear the unknown.

Clowns have some mystery to them between their prankster personality and the costume they wear. The unknown identity can lead to a very uneasy feeling for an individual who experiences coulrophobia. Their features are abnormal and unusual. This is something that can really bother people, but it is particularly huge for children which is typically a demographic clowns try to appeal to.

In basic interactions, people use facial expressions and body language to make sense of what the other party is communicating. With exaggerated and distorted features, people are left feeling uncertain. As a young child, this trigger can be terrifying and even traumatizing for them. Clowns are used in horror movies and as scare tactics throughout different cultures. The Joker has been an iconic character in comic books, television, and movies. His psychotic, trickster humor is mixed with a sadistic nature that has made him compelling and terrifying for decades.

One of the more classic horror movie scenes includes a clown terrorizing a child as he tries to fall asleep. In the s, John Gacy sexually assaulted and murdered over 30 boys and young men. He was eventually convicted and executed for those killings. In , Marlene Warren was murdered by a person dressed as a clown when she answered the door.

The intensity of the fear can vary from person to person. While true coulrophobia might not be quite as common, the anxiety, discomfort, and uneasiness people feel around clowns is extremely common, and should not be dismissed or mocked.