Why Are Kids Afraid Of Clowns?
For decades clowns seemed to be a vital part of any entertainment for children. However, as years pass, more and more adults say that they were afraid of clowns when they were kids. There is even a scientific name for the extreme fear of clowns — Coulrophobia. Why would children be afraid of the funny guy with a red nose hired by the adults to make a party more fun? Let’s find out.
- It’s a Stranger
We teach our kids not to trust strangers. The makeup makes the clown a strange-looking unfamiliar person that kids believe they should avoid. When this stranger tries to interact with them, they believe it’s a sign to run and find their parents.
- He is Not Human
Kids are just learning about the various things in this universe. They think they know what a human being should look like. But then they meet a clown. A clown is an exaggeration of a human being: large nose, huge feet, and unnaturally big smile. Kids view clowns as some unknown species and their inner instincts tell them to cry for help.
- Mom’s Away
Parents see a clown as an artist, who is going to entertain their kids while they can go about their business. Thrusting an unsuspecting child into the hands of a strange-looking person, who looks hardly human, can be extremely stressful to a child. Any kid is afraid of being left by his or her parents. That’s why when a parent willingly leaves them with a clown, they are terrified.
Coulrophobia is not something people are born with. It’s developed due to an ill-thought-out behavior of their parents. Sometimes this phobia develops in the later years due to horror movies where clowns are often the “bad guys”.
