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Thursday, November 17, 2011

Are you afraid of clowns?

Some people are afraid of heights or spiders – and a lot of people are afraid of clowns!

Coulrophobia is not that unusual. Among adults, 8% admit to having severe coulrophobia – or a debilitating fear of clowns and even jesters. That percentage is even higher in kids. Silly Billy, a.k.a David Kaye, a professional clown and children’s entertainer, says to a toddler, there’s nothing funny about a clown. He’s seen the terrified faces and opts for funny glasses with no makeup for just that reason.

There is a psychological explanation for clown aversion. The whitened face, bulbous nose and large lips all violate a child’s basic idea of how a human should appear. Children and adults alike rely on facial expressions to read others – and the exaggeration or masking of that basic communication can be confusing and downright scary at any age.

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