Clowns tend to produce different feelings and emotions in us. We usually associate them with funny moments, but for a percentage of the population, the clown figure is associated with negative and unpleasant feelings to the point of feeling a real dread. This fear is known as coulrophobia or fear of clowns.

For these people, the actions of some clowns are so disconcerting and invasive that they provoke a reaction similar to the one we would develop when faced with an attack.

What do you call people who are afraid of clowns

The name of clown phobia It is especially common in childhood, although there are teenagers and adults who are also affected by this phobia.

The term "coulrophobia" comes from an ancient Greek word meaning "one who walks on stilts". It is so because, in the past, court jesters chose very high heels to move around and dazzle their spectators.

Why people are afraid of clowns

Actually, this question has many answers. There are three main reasons why a person may be afraid of clowns. This may be due to a previous experience, a psychological effect, or a social stimulus.

Due to previous experience

Fear of clowns can be triggered by previous experiences. If, when a person was a child, someone frightened them by wearing a clown costume, it is possible that this had an aftereffect. Thus, that person develops the fear because of what they remember and the previous stimuli they had.

Because of a psychological effect

The permanent smile and red nose can lead our mind to interpret the clown as a positive figure.

On the other hand, his exaggerated features when making up his facial features, as well as his constant laughter, can trigger an unpleasant feeling. After all, the painting hides the person's identity and his intentions, causing discomfort and anxiety.

Because of a social stimulus

Perhaps one of the best examples of this reason is the movie "It" with the clown Pennywise. In case you don't remember, it was an adaptation of the book "It" by Stephen King.

This social stimulus marked a generation of children who, upon seeing a clown, experienced a natural feeling of distrust and anxiety because they related the clown figure to a negative stimulus.

Child Afraid of Clowns

Clowns are also often unpredictable and manic, so they can cause apprehension, especially in children.

Fear of clowns really starts at a very young age, at four or five. What usually happens is that a child is invited to a birthday party, and when he gets there, without parental preparation, he sees a weird guy with a wig, big shoes, weird clothes, and a big nose. To make matters worse, this guy approaches him talking in a strange way and doing strange things.

Some children love it, but some get really scared. This is because they are thrust into a situation without explanation and with which they cannot feel good.

It is worth saying that those who are predisposed to anxiety have an even stronger reaction. In fact, fear of clowns is one of the most common phobias in children.

Symptoms of clown phobia

Some people even suffer genuine panic attacks in the presence of a clown. These crises can be manifested in the appearance of physical symptoms, such as

• tachycardia or racing heart;
• autonomic hyperexcitation or motor restlessness;
• sweating;
• breathing difficulties;
• diseases;
• dizziness

Causes of clown phobia

The causes responsible for this irrational phobia are many and each case is unique. Most people affected by coulrophobia report having had a negative personal experience around the figure of a clown.

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It has even been used frequently in horror films as a technique to cause fear in the spectator. Thus, the filmmaker creates a very effective cognitive dissonance, using a figure commonly associated with entertainment and fun to do the opposite of what is expected. The clown then becomes a sadist or a psychopath, surprising the audience.

Treatment for coulrophobia

The most common techniques and treatment methods to combat clown phobia usually include psychological therapy.

Through habituation, this treatment allows people with phobia to make progressive contact with the cause of their fear (clowns in this case). For this reason, the bad feelings gradually decrease.

Details of psychotherapy as treatment

In the course of psychotherapy based on desensitization, the suffering experienced should diminish. The first sessions usually revolve around discussion and reflection on the fear and then the patient begins to see images related to the object of the phobia.

If the treatment is working, the patient will be comfortable and will not suffer any of the symptoms of coulrophobia, even in the presence of clowns in the same room.

Clown phobia

Some people develop this phobia because of traumatic experiences. Many of these traumas can be found in a subconscious part of our brain, which can make treating them more difficult.

But there is a very common element that many people who suffer from this fear verbalize. When talking, deepening and seeking an explanation for their phobia, they highlight the characteristic of clowns, which is having their faces painted.

A smile cannot be permanent

What does this mean in practice? In the scientific community, there is a consensus that coulrophobia arises because it is not possible to know exactly what the colorful makeup and disproportionate facial features of clowns hide.

These characteristics allow clowns to adopt a new identity and not meet certain social standards that would not otherwise be possible in "normal" life.

Sigmund Freud once wrote about the "uncanny valley" effect. This is a concept that names the rejection of something known that is at the same time strangely unusual. This thing produces a disturbing and contradictory feeling, a cognitive dissonance.

Final considerations

As we have seen in this article fear of clown This irrational fear can cause panic and nausea in people.

Although it is a rare phobia, many people find clowns frightening. If you identify with this article and assume you have clown phobia Also, if you know someone with this issue, be sure to suggest that they seek help! They can get rid of this fear.

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