Decipher the obsession of clown characters

The fear of clown or Coulrophobia is said to originate from the feeling of danger, not trusting when seeing fake smiles on the face of thick makeup of clown characters.

We often think that clowns are funny characters, bringing laughter to others. However, for some people, it is like a horrifying obsession. The word "Coulrophobia" was born to refer to the extreme fear each time facing clowns. Despite being refused recognition by mental health guidelines such as ICD (*) of the World Health Organization (WHO) or DSM (**) of the American Psychiatric Association, Coulrophobia still becomes a Common terms and are believed by experts to be real.

According to NBC News, the Today page posted a story about a 95-year-old grandfather who still transformed into a clown with a white face, orange wig and a giant bow tie. Share on Facebook, the article attracted many comments, mainly expressing fear by the phrase "shudder", "horrors", "hate", "looks like demons".

He was originally a funny character but became an obsession for many people.(Photo: WP).

Marla Deibler, founder and CEO of Philadelphia Emotional Health Center believes that 12% of the US population has Coulrophobia disease with symptoms such as sweating, nausea, heart palpitations, crying, screaming, anger. or fear in the situation of facing a clown. In fact, if you go to Google and type the words " I hate clowns" , you will meet a forum dedicated to people who hate clowns with more than 400,000 likes.

Rami Nader, a psychologist and director of North Shore Hospital specializing in anxiety and stress in Vancouver (Canada), said the psychological roots of obsession with fear may involve clowns often disguised, hide your true feelings to keep smiling. "You can't know who they are , " Nader explained . "You can't look at their faces or guess what is under the mask."

Agreeing with this point, Frank Farley, a professor of psychology from Temple University (USA), said: "He hides his natural face. This raises doubts." Clowns always smile while we tend not to trust those who show excessive happiness. Every stroke like eyes, nose, mouth clowns are exaggerated; both familiar and strange; bring a sense of danger and become the foundation of fear. Before this situation, the nervous system will alert the mind and body to respond to the threat.

Relatively rarely, the number of Coulrophobia sufferers is still sufficient for the University of Sheffield (UK) to conduct a survey in 2008. The research team interviewed 250 children aged 4 to 16 about decorating clown images at the hospital and found that most child volunteers hated clowns."We find that clowns are not loved by children. Some children are even scared," Dr. Penny Curtis said.

Coulrophobia does not need treatment because this is not a serious obsession.

So how to deal with fear of clowns?"What we need is to gradually touch and learn to handle anxiety , realizing what we fear cannot be harmful , " Nader advises. "So you will not lose control, not fear and not be ashamed if you are with others."

Judy Chessa, coordinator at the Center for Anxiety and Feariness at White Plains Hospital, New York, thinks that Coulrophobia does not need treatment because it is not a serious obsession . "Normally, people who are afraid of fearing just need to avoid situations that cause anxiety are enough. They will not have to see clowns during the day or at work. Except for those who have to work at the circus , of course, " she concluded. .

1. (*) ICD: Table of international statistical classification of related diseases and health problems.
2. (**) DSM: Guidelines for diagnosis and statistics of mental disorders.