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Are you scared right now? Symptoms of coulrophobia, the fear of clowns, can include sweating, nausea, feelings of dread, fast heartbeat, crying or screaming, and anger at being placed in a situation where a clown is present.
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.
One teeny-tiny car.
Based on responses to a recent story on the TODAY.com about a 95-year-old clown named "Creeky,” many people harbor the heebie-jeebies for men and women who traipse around in greasepaint, frilly orange wigs and gigantic bowties.
Among the 83 people who commented on the Facebook post about the story, 20 used the word “creepy” and many others admitted to being spooked by clowns, posting confessions such as "clowns freak the hell out of me" and "I hate clowns, ever since I watched 'It' [the movie based on the Stephen King novel]."
“They just look evil to me!” says Sue Molitor, of Valley Park, Missouri, one of people who commented negatively about clowns.
“I honestly do not remember when I began to dislike clowns," she added in an email interview. "I've never encountered one where I turned around and left because I never put myself close enough to one."
Molitor says if she had her way, Ronald McDonald would be out of a job.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't scared a few children over the years and now they are in therapy," she says. “Also, the commercial from the U.S. Postal Service? Priceless!”
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." Symptoms of coulrophobia can include sweating, nausea, feelings of dread, fast heartbeat, crying or screaming, and anger at being placed in a situation where a clown is present.
According to Rami Nader, a psychologist and director of the North Shore Stress and Anxiety Clinic in North Vancouver, B.C., the psychological roots of the phobia may be traced to the fact that clowns are basically wearing disguises (albeit funny ones) while displaying artificial emotions (even silly ones) that perhaps hide their true feelings.
"You can’t really tell who they are," he says. "You can’t really see their face. You don’t really know what that all means behind the mask.”
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 2008.
Researchers asked more than 250 children (ages four to 16) what they thought of the idea of using clown imagery to decorate a hospital children's ward. According to Dr. Penny Curtis, who helped conduct the study, "We found that clowns [were] universally disliked by children. Some found them quite frightening and unknowable."
How do you treat a clown phobia?
The same way you treat any other phobia, says Nader, the psychologist
“What we need to do is gradually come into contact with that thing – whether it’s spiders or heights, whatever you’re afraid of – and learn to cope with the anxiety, learn to recognize that what you’re afraid of won’t actually harm you," he says. "You won’t lose control, you won’t panic, you won’t embarrass yourself with other people."
Judy Chessa, LMSW and coordinator at the Anxiety & Phobia Treatment Center in New York’s White Plains Hospital, says she can’t recall ever treating any person with coulrophobia.
“But I wonder if that’s because this isn’t a phobia as much as a fear,” she says. “You can put the suffix ‘phobia’ after pretty much anything and define it as a phobia.
“Most likely, people with this fear can just easily avoid situations where they encounter clowns. So it doesn’t become an issue for them. They don’t see clowns during the day or at their jobs – except, I guess, those poor people who work at the circus.”
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I was fine....then I watched Killer Clowns From Outer Space......life as I knew it would never be the same.....
HAHAHAHA!!!!! Excellent movie~ Cult Classic!!
Saw that a couple years ago. So bad it's funny.
Killer Clowns From Outer Space was just so bad.... Now, the movie IT was a great movie!
That was a funny movie...
Oh they float... They all float down here!
(Beep Beep, Richie).
@WMG - YES!
Three words: John Wayne Gacey
Great movie! IT was OK, book was better.
whoa nellie...bozo...
i was afraid of Tammy Faye Baker. Is that the same thing?
Clowns? Fear? One name: John Wayne Gacey.
Mr. Gacey dressed up as a clown to entertain the children, often as he stalked them to kill them. He stuffed their bodies into his home's crawlspace.
But Mr. Gacey's story only added weight to my ongoing fear of clowns. Back in 1955, I was just a child when....
I was at the county fair, when a man dressed in white make-up, silly clothes, red Bozo hair, and a red nose, picked me up and grabbed me where I shouldn't be grabbed. My parents didn't know, but I was terrified. The clown smelled of alcohol (I just knew that he smelled bad), his ugly teeth, yellow eyes, and rough beard. And he slobber-bit my face. Well, that was it for me.
I am still afraid of clowns, and on many fronts, and for many good reasons.
clowns are no different then a women with make up on ,some are scary and some arnt
White makeup on an old mans face, with a sad smile painted on. Whats funny about that? That's the clowns I used to see at the circus when I was a kid. Nothing funny about them. Creepy and scary. Yuk!
Gacey is the worst case example of why their not funny.
clowns are like women they wear too much make up.
The US Postal Service commercial really hit the nail on the head. I think there are more people freaked out by clowns than not.
I love that commercial.
Clowns are creepy!
http://youtu.be/1XSVftO757k
I can't stand clowns or parades ugh! and why do we think we should subject our kids to them? CREEPY!
Grow up.
Can't sleep, the clowns will eat me.
Have a T-shirt that says something similar...
I've never really understood why people are afraid of clowns, no one in my family is afraid of them, and if fact my mother loved them and painted many pictures of happy and sad clowns. Neither of my children are afraid of them. My daughter-in-law however is totally freaked by them!! I get that it's a real fear for people, I just don't understand why....they're just people dressed up with white faces and big noses!! Are people who are afraid of clowns also afraid of mimes, because to me they are the same thing...
I am an avid clown collector, I own over 1000 including paintings, not one is evil even in looks. They can be worth quite a good chunk of money if you know what you are collecting, but they can also just be fun. I know people who fear them, and I have to agree with the article it is more a fear than a phobia. The thing that still confuses me; if it is the not knowing that fraks people out, do they like Halloween? The two movies mentioned here "IT" and "Killer Clowns from Outerspace" are two very ridiculous movies and bare no resemblance to what clowns are and what they stand for. They have killer Santa movies and you do not hear people having a fear of him. However, I do respect how one feels and can only hope it is something they can overcome in time. Some children have to miss out on the finer things in life due to a parents fears or dislikes, but denying a child the opportunity to experience the fun of a clown is a sad thing. Try not to pass on your fears or phobias to your offspring, it makes for too many generations of repeated offenses. Most cannot remember why or when the fear started because it was instilled in them as a child from someone close to them, in most cases.
@lifelongpackerfan - I can't speak for anyone else, but yes, I am also terrified of mimes. I cannot be around anyone with painted or masked faces. When I was a child I could not even be around my father when he had shaving cream on his face. When I got married i could not be around my husband when he was shaving. I have had people I know that have had their face painted and try to comfort me when I get hysterical. Nothing works except removing them from my sight or I have to leave.
It is a dibilitating fear. I wish I did not have it. I do not know why I am affected in this way. It has been as long as I can ever remember. I am 47 years old and I am terrified of clowns.
This article is funny to me because I love clowns. I have a huge collection of them since childhood. But then again I have never watched scary movies that involve clowns. Hmmmm, maybe I could use my clowns to scare people for the fun of it. Just kidding.
Clowns creep the hell out of me...and truthfully, they never did until I read "It". I totally understand the fear and avoid them at all costs...for real.
My daughter was about four years old, and she was deathly afraid of clowns! In parades when they would walk by, she would hide under a lawn chair just shaking with fright. She wasn't quite as afraid of Ronald McDonald at McDonald's but there still was that fear facture involved.
My son fled from any Santa until about age 11, and when he was 3 or 4 we were at Chuck-E-Cheese, and Chuck came up to shake hands and he flipped out!. I had to tell Chuckie 3 times to get lost. And we're both not very fond of clowns.
Actually my Mom isn't either. At the Ringling Brother's Circus in Milwaukee when she was chaperoning a school trip, she literally ran right in to Ronald McDonald in a stairwell while looking for a bathroom and got grease paint on her, and he was unhappy!
No naughty thoughts anyone, my Mom's a prude. lol
"maybe I could use my clowns to scare people for the fun of it."
And USA's real name is John Wayne Gacy.
Stand by 4 his hatred.............
Well, I'm sorry, but.... I was a professional birthday Clown for over 18 years (I have retired this year)! I was NOT scary and never had people scaried to death of me. I was a happy clown with white face and lots of colors. Hearts all over ("Amor" is Love) and brought happiness to many children of all ages (even older folks). Lets not dwell on the saddeness of how some people are afraid of clowns, but how many people enjoy the 'joy' a Clown brings to there lives! It's just grease paint (like what actors wear on any stage), but it's white and some other colors. I would be happy to demostrate putting on my makeup if would help someone over come there fear. And I really protest when people put 'scary clowns' in movies, books, commercials or on the internet. Yes, I've made calls and written letters.
I'm a person too! I loved being a clown... I think I made lots of people smile and happy (in these times we really need that)! I'm just saying!! So UP with Clowns! They are People Too!! :0) Love, "Amor the Clown"!!
I have never known anyone with this fear until my son was about 8 years old and we took him to the circus. He seemed totally fine but when we wanted to go again the next year he didn't want to because of the clowns. Ever since then he hates clowns, anyone with painted faces OR anyone in any type of costume. He won't even trick-or-treat anymore or go to Chuck E Cheese (that's not so bad LOL). It's really odd because before then he had seen clowns at parties and never freaked out about it.
I don't find clowns scary. I just find them annoying.
Maybe that's how my phobia surfaces... instead of fear, it's sort of an anger or disdain.
On the other hand, I feel really bad for clowns because they got such a bad rap, they are honestly just entertainers trying to make a buck and being silly.
I'm here to school ya. Not all clowns are clowns. The usually creepy, balloon animal making, birthday party, talentless weirdo clown is an american bastardization of the true craft of clowning. True European traditional "rednose" clowning is a theatrical craft that takes training and great acting ability. The most familiar form is based on the teachings of Jaques Le Coque from Paris. In the LeCoque school, the clown is born in the moment of failure and it requires the performer to be MORE human, MORE vulnerable, MORE connected to the audience. The silliness is a by-product of humanity dealing with its failings. Look at the difference between a Cirque De Soleil clown and some creep making balloon animals at a party. They are worlds apart. The make up doesn't hide you, it reveals you.
I've never really been afraid of clowns. I think it's because kids see them as being more of a clown than an actual human. I'll never forget being six years old at the carnival and over hearing two of them saying what their plans were for the weekend while smoking cigarettes. I thought that was funnier than their act. Lol
@ u don't say: If your going to quote me...use the whole quote not part of it! You overlooked the "just kidding." part. Are you a conspiracy theorist? Seriously, I am a suburban mom with three children and a grandchild. Guess, you don't know how to take joke? Lighten up or a heart attack is going to get you instead of a silly clown.
Obama's a clown and he scares the hell outta me.............
As a child I used to have nightmares about Ronald McDonald. He still freaks the hell out of me and I'm 27! LOL.
Betcha didn't know that Ronald McDonald is 100% composed of pink slime!
yep me too, a recurring nightmare of him, and I remain freaked out by him at 44. A clown seems like the perfect representative for McDonalds. Supposedly happy and fun on the outside, but potentially toxic on the inside.
Now that you bring it up Ronald Mc Donald is kinda creepy.
I will NOT go anywhere that I know a clown will be present at. I want to take my 3 year old daughter to the circus but clowns are there so I just can't bring myself to do it. I don't really know why I have a phobia of them, I've been that way since I was little. Maybe its the fact their faces are all painted up so you can't really tell who they are. And I gotta agree with the Ronald McDonald thing as well he scare's me.
I totally agree! I made my hubby bring the kids to the circus when they were little b/c I was terrified to go...lol. And I hate Ronald McDonald!
you can't really tell who anyone is. especially those women who wear a burka. but every man and woman is an enigma. in order to see their true selves, you must release them from their costumes of skin, bone and hair.
Stoopid, you talk like an up-and-coming psycopathic killer.
ya, I was pretending to be creepy, to suit this thread. I maintain a strict catch and release policy. oops, there I go again.
Love Jack Handey!!
The scariest clown moment for me was in Poltergeist, when the clown doll on the chair is gone after the boy wakes up. He looks around, doesn't see it. Finally he looks under the bed. No clown. It's when he sits back up that we see the clown behind him, and it grabs him, dragging him screaming under the bed. I screamed like a little girl when I saw that at 10. LOL.
I'm not afraid of clowns though.
There it is...the reason clowns creep me out. Poltergeist and that creepy-a** clown.
I really don't find them all that funny either. I think it's because they are people, strangers that hide behind costume and makeup that conceals their true identity, and they are trying to get laughs and approval from children. But that's just an opinion.
Clowns are creepy.
I hold no personal animosity towards clowns.
But I must disagree with you regarding scariest clown moment.
Unanimously, the photograph of John Wayne Gacy in his full Clown get up holding balloons and waving to the camera with that twisted sick smile is the A-#1 all time creepiest Clown moment.
I've got to agree w/ ChitownMatt, that John Waynce Gacy picture is the most disturbing clown image I can think of, but I think that's because of what we know about him; a monster trying to pose as harmless.
ChitownMatt, After seeing the movie, I have am totally scared of clowns. There are no words to explain JWG.
Poltergeist. yes! That's a real place to start hating clowns. I was scrolling down just to mention it and you already did!
Great movie though. It plays on ALL the childhood fears.
Yep, this is the one that did it for everyone. So many people I know say the same thing. I, however, still get a chuckle out of it because it didn't affect me but scared the snot out of my brother and sisters.
Never saw that movie, thanks for the warning. lol When I was a little girl, in the 50's, yeah a long time ago, I was seated next to Emmet Kelley, the most famous clown in Barnum and Bailey's circus. I wasn't afraid of him b/c he was so sad. I didn't like the others though. As my daughter was growing up, she had to have an operation at 3 years old. A clown came into her room and she totally freaked, I had to ask him to please leave. I never shied her away from clowns, she did that on her own. Now that she's grown we share our dislike and as for IT, OMG OMG OMG.
Yea I remember that scene. That whole movie freaked everyone out. Made Chuckie look look like Elmo
Ah...so my granddaughter is not alone!
Nope.
I used to draw clowns, but they were the sweet ones and not threatening. In general I don't like them either. I don't mind a picture if it is pleasant and not creepy, but pictures of real ones and the real ones in person aren't so pleasant for me. I wouldn't call mine a phobia, but people in masks give me the creeps.
I used to draw clowns, but they were the sweet ones and not threatening. In general I don't like them either. I don't mind a picture if it is pleasant and not creepy, but pictures of real ones and the real ones in person aren't so pleasant for me. I wouldn't call mine a phobia, but people in masks give me the creeps.
I used to draw clowns, but they were the sweet ones and not threatening. In general I don't like them either. I don't mind a picture if it is pleasant and not creepy, but pictures of real ones and the real ones in person aren't so pleasant for me. I wouldn't call mine a phobia, but people in masks give me the creeps.
Clowns are creepy and their disguises are not "funny" -- they are freaky. My extreme dislike of clowns also extends to jesters, most puppets, carnivals and circuses. My parents have a jester lamp in their house and one of my dad's favorite teases is to put it in my bathroom or on my dresser when I come visit.
Poltergeist, IT, Killer Klowns from Outer Space....all classic clown phobia sources!!! I don't have a clown phobia but the Poltergeist scene and IT freak me out a little. With Poltergeist it is more of a "doll being alive" kind of thing, though.
I know somebody that is the closest thing to Superman without being able to fly. Tall, muscular, law enforcement, truth justice the American way, heavily involved in charity, the whole 9 yards. Ever hear the saying "No matter how big, bad, and tough you are there is always somebody bigger, badder, and tougher"? He is that guy that is bigger, badder and tougher. Yet clowns are his kryptonite.
I don't like dolls either.
Dolls are way worse than clowns. Especially dolls with teeth! Some of their eyes are freaky, too.
Dolls...ewww. I came in to check my daughter one night and on her pillow was her doll with big eyes wide open and my daughter was under blankets at the other end of the bed, so I think it was her. I looked more closely since the head on the pillow looked odd in the dim light, and not only did I almost have a heart attack when I saw it was that *%**& doll staring at me, but then I had to find her and my heart was racing the whole time. I just knew for a second that horrible doll had done something to her and was taking her place.
I hate movies with dolls and the Twilight Zone episode with one didn't help the situation. Funny how many here ended up not liking those traditional parts of childhood. Ick.
My daughter had a doll like that. But it would pray, at random times. So one night I'm in bed and I hear someone talking from her room. I go in and it's this doll, in a whispery childlike voice, "Now I lay me down to sleep..." and it's looking at me. It was all I could do to keep from ripping the stuffing out of that thing. It was in the donation box the next day.
Functioning members of society have an obligation to think and act rationally. Get over your irrational fears people....or at least ignore them. It's the responsible thing to do.
To YOU they are irrational....other people's fears, simply because they do not seem rational to you...are quite real and your comments as to the responsibility of those fears, is quite cruel.
Ahh, I see Ed is riding his self-righteous horse - no pun intended.
Lisa: "Fear of flying is nothing to be ashamed of, Mom. Everybody is afraid of something."
Homer: "Not EVERYbody."
Marge: "SOCK PUPPETS!!!!"
Homer: "WHERE?!?!?! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" (runs out of room)
Geez Ed, chillax... It's just a simple story. Go take a happy pill. It's Friday!
I wonder how Ed would react if he were in near darkness and suddenly a CLOWN face appeared in front of him. Hmm...probably jump like anyone else. It's easy to be brave in front of a keyboard, but everyone has something that makes him/her uncomfortable.
Um....a phobia by definition is an irrational fear. That's what a phobia is....it's not my opinion....it's not cruel....it's not self righteous......blame the medical community if you don't like their definition of phobia....don't blame me.
@EdFL . . . . . say, where's that "get over it" switch in my head? You make it sound sooooo easy.
Clowns don't scare me... but I do find them a bit disturbing. A grown person, especially a man, who likes to dress up in those strange clothes and spend a lot of time with little children just doesn't strike me as natural. Maybe I'm a skeptic, but I personally cannot stand other people's kids; anyone who volunteers to hang out with them all the time might have an ulterior motive, IMO.
Paranoid Personality Disorder (Diagnostic Code 301.0)
Pennywise is always watching. "There really are monster, they live inside of us. And sometimes they win" Stephen King.
"They float. They all float down here. And when you're down here, you'll float, too."
Oh man...this is EXACTLY why I dont like those creepy things!!!!
Clowns are horrible unnatural creatures! I say we round 'em all up and ship 'em to a deserted island where they can squirt seltzer on each other as much as they want.
After seeing the movie IT and then of course John Wayne Gacy, clowns creep me the hell out and you couldn't pay me to be alone in a room with one
I wouldn't call a fear of clowns irrational. Imagine you're a little kid who is usually shy around strangers and you find yourself at a birthday party where some giant and absurd person shows up and makes a bee-line for you while making ridiculous guffawing noises. He gets all in your face trying to get a rise out of you while the adults all cackle in laughter. The emotional state of the clown is clearly disturbed - even a kid can sense that. No, I wouldn't call this fear irrational at all!
How about a fear of mimes? Do they count as "clowns"? I've seen mimes do some pretty stupid or downright mean things in pursuit of laughs, like walking behind an elderly person, mimicking the way she walked with her cane, and taking a police officer's baton out of its holster and waving it at him. Mimes creep ME out.
Have a clown phobia? I recommend Killer Clowns From Outer Space one of the best/worst movies ever made. Or sit up in the dark some night and watch Stephen Kings movie IT. You'll be running for the hills in no time!