Coulrophobia

"Fear of clowns" redirects here. For the film series, see Fear of Clowns.

Coulrophobia is a fear of clowns. The term is of recent origin, probably dating from the 1980s,^[1] and according to one analyst, "has been coined more on the Internet than in printed form because it does not appear in any previously published, psychiatric, unabridged, or abridged dictionary," however the author later notes, "regardless of its less-than-verifiable etymology, coulrophobia exists in several lists".^[2] The condition is a specific phobia (DSM-IV Code 300.29).^[3]

The prefix "coulro-" may be derived from the Ancient Greek word κωλοϐαθριστής meaning "stilt-walker",^{[nb 1]} although the concept of a clown as a figure of fun was unknown in classical Greek culture.^[5]

Research

According to a psychology professor at California State University, Northridge, young children are "very reactive to a familiar body type with an unfamiliar face".^[6]

A study conducted by the University of Sheffield found that the children did not like clown decor in the hospital or doctors office settings. The survey was about children’s opinions on decor for an upcoming hospital redesign. Dr Penny Curtis, a researcher, stated "As adults we make assumptions about what works for children. We found that clowns are universally disliked by children. Some found them quite frightening and unknowable."^[7][8]

In popular culture

In July 2006, the Bestival, a three-day music festival held in England, had to withdraw a request to festival goers to come dressed as clowns due to the unexpectedly high prevalence of claimed coulrophobia among the potential audience.^[9]

Coulrophobia can be a plot device used to show how the protagonist must overcome his fears in order to vanquish the enemy. Examples include the 2009 film Zombieland, in which a character must overcome his fear in order to kill a zombie clown.^[10]

Coulrophobia can also be used for humour, such as in an episode of Frasier, in which Frasier has a client who is afraid of clowns. One Halloween, Frasier dresses up as a clown to scare his father, Martin. Martin has a heart attack and is taken to the hospital. Frasier follows, dressed in his clown costume.^[11] It was also used as a comedic device on Seinfeld, as Kramer suffers from coulrophobia as well. In The Simpsons episode "Lisa's First Word", Homer tries to build a bed for Bart after he outgrows his crib, and fashions the headboard into a clown. However, instead of being the "fun friend" Homer intends it to be, it triggers insomnia in Bart, who keeps repeating "can't sleep, clown will eat me."^[8][12] The phrase became an Internet meme and has inspired the Alice Cooper song "Can't Sleep, Clowns Will Eat Me".^[13]

In the movie Killer Klowns From Outer Space's director commentary, the directors posit that the unique, naturally-evolved look of the alien Klown race had inadvertently inspired the idea/concept behind clowns on Earth. Those with coulrophobia, then, would have a vague, genetic memory-like sense that things that look like clowns are dangerous and violent.

See also

• Evil clown
• List of phobias
• Uncanny valley

References

Notes

1. ^ Author Michael Quinion suggests that the prefix "coulro-" derives from the Greek kolobathristes, meaning "stilt-walker".^[1] The Oxford Dictionary of English alternatively suggests that it derives from kolobatheron, meaning "stilt".^[4]

Citations

1. ^ ^{a b} Quinion, Michael, "coulrophobia", World Wide Words, http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-col2.htm, retrieved 14 March 2011 
2. ^ Robertson, John G. (2003). An Excess of Phobias and Manias. Senior Scribe Publications. ISBN 9780963091932. http://books.google.com/books?id=r4PgawVAzB8C&pg=PA62&dq=Coulrophobia&hl=sv&sig=ACfU3U3aM0dDtzkFRivqCOPVqX1K24Dplg. 
3. ^ "Excerpt from DSM-IV". Behavenet.com. http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/specphob.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
4. ^ Stevenson, Angus, ed. (2010), "coulrophobia noun" (Subscription or UK public library membership required), Oxford Dictionary of English (online ed.), Oxford University Press, http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t140.e0183900, retrieved 14 March 2011 
5. ^ Crosswell, Julia, "clown" (Subscription or UK public library membership required), Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins (online ed.), Oxford University Press, http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t292.e1047, retrieved 14 February 2011 
6. ^ "Trinity.edu". Trinity.edu. http://www.trinity.edu/org/tricksters/trixway/current/Vol%203/Vol3_1/Durwin.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
7. ^ "Health | Hospital clown images 'too scary'". BBC News. 2008-01-15. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7189401.stm. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
8. ^ ^{a b} Finlo Rohrer (2008-01-16). "Why are clowns scary?". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7191721.stm. 
9. ^ Diver, Mike (2006-07-10). "''DON'T send in the clowns: Bestival cancels fancy dress event''". Drownedinsound.com. http://drownedinsound.com/news/984591. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
10. ^ "''Zombieland'' review". DeccanHerald.com. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/53720/zombieland.html. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
11. ^ "''Boo! (a.k.a. I'm With Her)''". TV.com. http://www.tv.com/frasier/boo!-a.k.a.-im-with-her/episode/304371/summary.html. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
12. ^ Kirkland, Mark (2004). The Simpsons The Complete Fourth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Lisa's First Word" (DVD). 20th Century Fox. 
13. ^ "Some pop culture creations demonize the red-nosed men". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 2007-02-15. http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/AT/lib00059,117508302B023D18.html. Retrieved 2008-01-19.