What is the psychology behind people being scared of clowns?

Question

Is it because they see the person as wearing a "mask", and having something sinister to hide? Or is it just the result of too many horror movies involving clowns? Surely the fear had to be present before the killer clown movies, though, otherwise it would have never been an idea for one. Just curious as to what it has to mean psychologically for someone to fear clowns, when they were originally created to make us laugh? Where did this fear originate?

Answer 1

Interesting question. Oddly enough, I was thinking about this exact subject the other day. Not that I usually sit around thinking about people, and their irrational fear of clowns, but I had just organized a collection of books on my shelf, and IT was among them, and it put me to thinking for a moment.

Clowns is actually a very common fear. I've had about four long term relationships, and three of the girls were completely afraid of clowns. As I browse myspace profiles, I see clowns listed as a fear quite often. Ask anyone directly what they're afraid of, and there is a very definate possibility that they will, in fact, say clowns.

I have to assume that in order for them to make it to media and books as a "sinister" source, there must be some degree of fear already existant in them. Steven King is a master at capitalizing on existing human fear, and he certainly did so in IT by creating a protagonist that was, in fact, a clown. I think perhaps his use of a clown as such an evil and sinister creature may have enhanced the overall fear of clowns, but as you stated, it had to have come from "Somewhere" to ever get that far.

Children also develop irrational fears of Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny when they see them in person, and go about setting on their lap. Many children cry. Santa is hidden behind that big fluffy beard, and the Easter Bunny is hidden behind that concealing white suit, so perhaps the "unknown" aspect of it is part of it.

Not to mention, children as a rule aren't too fond of strangers, and what is Santa, or the Easter Bunny, or a clown but a funny dressed stranger who not only approaches the child, but speaks to them directly, and frequently suddenly. I've seen clowns make children cry at parties by abruptly approaching them and trying to make them laugh, but having it backfire because...well, when you're six, someone with a funny painted face isn't all that funny.

Originally, ancient people's rarely painted their faces for humor. They did it to encite fear in enemies, and for concealment. Face painting and other strange and unorthodox adornments were tradionally used to incite a negative feeling. And let it be told if a raging maniac in face paint came charging your way on the street it would have a harder impact than if a man in khaki's and a nice shirt did it.

I think there is also an "acceptability" factor in the fear of clowns. That is, while it is a very valid fear for many people, some people claim it as a fear because it has become such a common, goofy if you will, fear. I'm convinced that some people who say they are afraid of clowns truely aren't afraid of clowns, but have just gotten use to saying that. For a lot of teenage girls I'm convinced they find it somewhat "cute" to claim a fear of clowns. Girls, especially young ones, like exposing a fear in the presence of a boyfriend to see how he will react, or simply to make him react. I think clowns has become just one of those commonly used "not so real" fears used by young girls in this way.

I say this because I've met a lot of girls who say, "I use to be afraid of clowns" now that I'm 28, and when I was 16 I met a lot of girls who made almost "too big" of a show of being scared of clowns, as she slipped deeper into my arms during a showing of IT. Heh.

I don't have a good answer, I just figured I'd ramble on. I'm sure the reasons vary from one person to the next. Clowns are "unknown in identity", "unorthodox in appearance", "bluntly agressive in approach", and "uncharacterisically, even falsley cheerful in demeanor". Perhaps somewhere in that combination of "not-normal" stuff, fear is born :)

Answer 2

Coulrophobia or Fear of Clowns is not an uncommon phobia

Like all fears and phobias, clown phobia is created by the unconscious mind as a protective mechanism. At some point in your past, there was likely an event linking clowns and emotional trauma. Whilst the original catalyst may have been a real-life scare of some kind, the condition can also be triggered by myriad, benign events like movies, TV, or perhaps seeing someone else experience trauma

Answer 3

Whininess! Most people who say they're afraid of clowns just want attention in my experience. They go on and on about how clowns freak them out as if it makes them unique and makes people think they're interesting.

I'm sure some people are actually afraid of clowns, but since it's become a cliche way too many people say they are...

Many people genuinely think clowns are a little creepy, but this isn't truly being "scared of clowns." The creepiness of clowns could be explained as a certain uncanniness brought on by their semi-human, semi-supernatural appearance, and the denial/supression by the atmosphere of the performance of how strange the clowns appear... The fact that these semi-human creatures are supposed to bring joy, while if they existed in reality and it wasn't just makeup they would be simply monstrous, does make them a little creepy. They would undoubtedly have been less creepy to an older audience, from back when clowns were more common and people simply accepted their appearance as part of tradition.

Answer 4

A broad question. Specific people fear clowns, and for various reasons. Perhaps the clown is a symbol of something else that is feared, perhaps the threatening father. Or perhaps the individual experienced abuse at the hand of a clown. Or perhaps clowns associate to ridicule, which is often unpleasant. What comes to mind when I hear the word "clown"? Circus. Maybe something bad happened at the circus. The answer to your question is case-specific.

Answer 5

I'm not scared of them, but I think they are majorly creepy. I can't really explain why though... maybe it's the weird face paint. Plus the fact that they make really scary killer clown Halloween costumes doesn't help.

Answer 6

Really, if you think about it, how close are fear and laughter? You tell someone something that scared the being out of you and what's their most normal response? Laughter. Almost appropriate that people would fear a clown.

Answer 7

They've seen Kerry & Edwards out of make-up ...

Answer 8

THAT DARN BOZO SHOW WE WATCHED EVERY SUNDAY MORNING GROWING UP!!! Deb