Coulrophobia: An Analysis

Coulrophobia is the fear of clowns, which makes it a specific phobia (DSM-IV Code 300.29). The term is believed to have been a layman coinage from around the 1980s, eventually seeping into the medical lexicon.  Like most phobias, the name stems from Ancient Greek, possibly “stilt-walker” for “coulro-”; as the Greeks had no closer concept for clowns.

There are several factors behind this medical condition.  The first and most obvious is a traumatic childhood experience associated with clowns; as seen in the accounts below:

          i.            Lisa Weihlmuller, 45, of Arlington, began fearing clowns around 6 or 7 while at the circus: “A clown got right up in front of my face, and I could see his beard stubble underneath the clown makeup.  He smelled bad and his eyes were weird… He had this smile painted on his face, but he was not smiling.  He was yucky. Scary. Freaky. Weird.”

         ii.            “My hatred of clowns began when I was 5 years old.  I was at a circus, and a clown came up to me and said, “Would you like to see the monkey I have in my box?  Well, of course I did, so I said yes. When I looked into the box, there was no monkey…only a mirror.”

Others also suggest the huge influx of negative portrayals of clowns in the media through clown-based horror such as Stephen King’s IT, the Twisted Metal franchise, ‘evil clown’ movies and the infamous Joker in the Batman comics. There is also a tendency in news reporting to overemphasise their profession when featuring criminals and killers worked as clowns. It was also observed in an intriguing study (Durwin, 2004) that clowns were frequently tied with the supernatural for the previous case; the significance of which will be explained later on.

While it becomes tempting to blame the media for the present pervasiveness of coulrophobia, research has shown that the current hatred for clowns has already permeated society before this media trend ever arose. In fact, Durwin argues that the reverse may be true; that popular media actually mirrors upon the public fear of clowns. The situation is further complicated when one considers the mechanism by which phobias develop.  Since fear is a natural protective mechanism, phobia is basically a repetitive circuit of reactions based on a survival instinct blown to grotesque proportions. Therefore, clowns, which are not dangerous by nature, have become a threat merely through human perception.

So if the media is not responsible, how do we explain the large contingent of coulrophobes who do not possess the obligatory traumatic memories, yet have somehow made an unconscious, hysterical connection between these jolly entertainers and the sinister?

Psychologically, it may be the natural guardian instincts of a community for its young at work. Parents may have registered at some subconscious level that clowns are adults who wear masks and have access to children; a set of connotations that would’ve been frightening in any other context –and may still have set them on edge regardless. Children, on the other hand, may reject clowns due to their higher sensitivity to a familiarly human body coupled with a rather inhuman face.  This phenomenon is explained by the “uncanny valley” hypothesis, in which repulsion is said to occur when one is faced with a humanoid subject past a certain limit in human likeness.  Clowns may also instigate fear for their historic and unconsciously perceived role of breaking social norms and boundaries without repercussions, a power no average person would want another fellow human to own in real life.  The phobia may also be aggravated by the strong, persistent link between clowns and the supernatural, which can be traced to the extensive, culturally universal practice of ritual clowning i.e. clown-based shamanism. Added to guises that clowns traditionally assume, and it becomes very clear that they have simply become a target for the intrinsic human fear of the unknown; especially in today’s anti-mysticism, rationale-propped society.

So how does one go about addressing such a phobia? As with most specific phobias, pharmacological treatment has not been as effective as behaviour therapy. Thus, systemic desensitisation, such as graded exposure and flooding, is suggested. Nevertheless, a short course of benzodiazepines or beta blockers can be administered during the process to help control the autonomic symptoms.

Reference: 
1. Durwin, Joseph (2004). "Coulrophobia and the Trickster," Trickster's Way: Vol. 3: Iss. 1, Article 4. Obtained from: http://www.trinity.edu/org/tricksters/trixway/current/vol%203/vol3_1/Durwin.htm.

2. Stead, L.G., Kaufman, M.S. & Yanofski, J. First Aid For The® Psychiatry Clerkship (2011), pg 52. 3^rd ed.  Singapore: McGraw-Hill Medical.