Scientists have discovered why five percent of people in the US are afraid of clowns – and the cause is not, as you might expect, scary childhood experiences with clowns.
Instead, the fears are rooted in a handful of typical clown traits, according to a new study by American psychologists.
Researchers at the University of South Wales surveyed more than 500 people who have a fear of clowns – known as coulrophobia – and found some surprising reasons for their phobia.
The most common report was that he couldn’t tell what the clown was really feeling because of the painted smile and that he was scared Portrayed in some films, such as the character Pennywise in the 2017 version of Stephen King’s It.
Elements of a clown’s appearance, including the tufts of brightly colored hair and the big red nose, can also be disturbing.
Those who fear clowns say part of the fear has to do with fictional depictions, such as Bill Skarsgård’s disturbing version of the character Pennywise in Stephen King’s “It.”
Philip Tyson, professor of psychology at the University of South Wales, has been teaching phobias for fifteen years. Each year, a consistent minority of students admit to being afraid of clowns.
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According to a recent survey, about five percent of the population is afraid or very afraid of clowns.
Professor Tyson and colleagues were so fascinated by fear that they developed a study to find out where her phobia came from.
One of the “most surprising findings,” Tyson told The Washington Post, was that “a frightening personal experience with a clown does not significantly contribute to fear.”
The research was published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology and although it is not based on a representative sample of the population, the study provides insight into the reasons why people are afraid of clowns.
One interesting reason given by participants was that you never really know what a clown is thinking.
Their painted smiles or frowns make it hard to see what’s really going on in their heads.
“It has something to do with the fact that we can’t read facial expressions,” said Mr. Tyson explained. “And the fact that there can be something hidden and dangerous, there can also be malicious intentions behind the make-up.”
Phobias often arise from characters or objects that look a lot, but not exactly, like people, such as aliens and robots.
Clowns are also known to behave unpredictably, such as honking or spraying water from a flower.
Mr Tyson said it introduced an element of unpredictability which was a common cause of anxiety – and was often cited alongside other phobias, such as the fear of spiders.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
