Why Clowns Are So Scary: What is Coulrophobia - Psychologists Explain
Lately, we can increasingly hear that people are not happy, but are actually afraid of clowns.
In many ways, this trend is driven by pop culture.
Let's figure out whether clowns are really that scary and how to understand that you suffer from coulrophobia.
What is coulrophobia
Coulrophobia, or bosophobia (named after the popular US clown Bozov) is an uncontrollable fear of clowns, which can affect not only children, but also adults.
This disease is characterized by symptoms typical of any other phobia. When in contact with the cause of fear, the pulse and breathing quicken, shortness of breath appears, sweat is released profusely and an inexplicable fear appears, developing into horror.
It is believed that the origins of coulrophobia lie in childhood. A child may begin to fear clowns from childhood, because he is frightened by the makeup or mask on the artist's face, behind which it is impossible to understand the artist's true intentions.
Cases of this phobia became well-known after creators of various content realized that they could make money from the fear of clowns.
This is why clowns become the heroes of many popular horror films, for example, Stephen King's "It" or the Batman comics, where the main antagonist is often the Joker in clown makeup.
