Buzz
Phobias and fears seem to be built into us as survival instincts, like recoiling from fire or avoiding a snake. But coulrophobia, or the fear of clowns, is different. Why would we fear a character meant to bring happiness and laughter? What makes Pennywise, the villain from Stephen King's *It*, such an effective source of terror for the children of Derry, Maine?
A study published in *Frontiers in Psychology* might provide some insight. Researchers from the University of South Wales surveyed 528 individuals who admitted to fearing clowns or clown-related activities in an effort to uncover the origins of their distress.
After reviewing the responses, the researchers identified some common reasons behind the phobia. One key factor is the uncertainty clowns create with their appearance. Their makeup, though expressive, serves as a mask that hides their true thoughts and intentions, which can be unsettling.
“It’s the inability to interpret facial expressions,” said lead author and psychology professor Philip John Tyson in an interview with *The Washington Post*. “And the fear that something might be concealed, that there could be malicious intent behind the makeup.”
The makeup, typically white with a red mouth, can evoke a sense of illness or pallor, as though the clown might be carrying a contagious disease.
Another unsettling aspect is the clown's unpredictability: willing to do anything for a laugh, their mystery can leave people feeling uneasy.
Participants also pointed out the unsettling, almost inhuman appearance of clowns and their portrayals in media, although the latter often seems to reflect coulrophobia more than it causes it. Only a few mentioned personal negative encounters with clowns as the source of their fear.
In the end, people seem to be disturbed by clowns because their outward cheerfulness may conceal something more sinister. In fact, this dynamic applies to many people—but clowns have a unique talent for bringing that fear to the surface.
