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by yogo562 on March 26th, 2007

yogo562

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What is the fear of clowns caused from?

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  • by killdrphil - reasonable for a madman on September 3rd, 2007

    killdrphil - reasonable for a madman

    The one-two punch of John Wayne Gacy and Pennywise from IT.

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  • by IamViolet on March 30th, 2007

    IamViolet

    2 sources...most commonly the temperament of the child is "slow-to-warm" (reading on an individual's temperament and reactions to his/her environment forming "personality" will give you the strongest understanding of your child). With the "slow-to-warm", there must be a low-key and safe environment in order for the child to become comfortable and "slowly" trust the unfamiliar person (or situation). Clowns violate this need by being too loud, too close, and too interactive too soon. Gradual desensitization (going from looking at a photo of a clown all the way to shaking hands with one over a period of weeks) is the best solution.

    Second reason, is generalizing anxiety. A child may have an initial traumatic experience or fear of something. This fear is spread into related objects or related situations. For example, if (horrible but common) a child is sexually molested during a birthday party while others are in the next room having loud fun...the child will associate the party, loudness, and (the clown) with that trauma and will then fear such things as parties, loud noises, and clowns.

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  • by Thundercleese on March 26th, 2007

    Thundercleese

    Killer Clowns from Outer Space

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  • by jin jang on March 26th, 2007

    jin jang

    I think it is when a youngster is not prepared and suddenly sees a clown. Since his facial features,such as a red ball as a nose,and the strange way the face is painted is new and foreign to the child.This is a shock and the child develops a fear instead of the fun of a clown.

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  • by Zibbys Mind Is In the Gutter Today on March 27th, 2007

    Zibbys Mind Is In the Gutter Today

    Well, with most kids it started with my parents allowing me to see "IT" when I was like 6, then after having a really bad experience with a guy when I was 14, my parents forced my friend and I to go to the circus and when I got up and went to the restroom (first time I went alone anywhere in public for a while) a clown came out of no where and started to chase me literally. I freaked, I hate clowns and really don't like the circus.

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  • by chick98 on March 26th, 2007

    chick98

    Mine was caused from the "Poltergeist" movie
    when that clown came out from under the bed and attacked the boy. Never been the same since.

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  • by bluestar10017 on November 2nd, 2010

    bluestar10017

    Often people have had a fear of clowns at a young age and then an event took place in their lives that caused their fear to become phobias or movies such as "It" with killer clowns cause peoples view on clowns to go from funny, silly, or stupid to monsters or haunting images.

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  • by King Tom on November 1st, 2008

    King Tom

    Its a taboo, people associate them with fear because they've seen them associated with fear at some point earlier in their lives.

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  • by Scooter on June 26th, 2008

    Scooter

    I blame Stephen King and the book "IT"

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  • by Someguy on January 2nd, 2008

    Someguy

    because of the evil clown in the movie Polstergeist. It scarred me for life against clowns.

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  • by jin jang on January 1st, 2008

    jin jang

    Because one day they could rule a country .:) :)

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  • by Kevisaurus is a Carnotaurus today on January 1st, 2008

    Kevisaurus is a Carnotaurus today

    Clowns are freaky and weird and due to their strangeness they then become an acceptable correlation to any and all real and preconceived fears where they could through a process of emotional transference exhibit itself in an exotic guise as that of the clown.

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  • by Quackers on September 3rd, 2007

    Quackers

    I've always found china dolls much creepier than clowns. Even as a little girl, I didn't like having baby dolls (only Barbies would do). I just thought there was something freaky about them. Clowns don't bother me.

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  • by Punny on September 3rd, 2007

    Punny

    Maybe they were frigtened by one as a child and all clowns "bother" them. The doll in Poltergeist scared me to death!!! (I was not a child at that time, either!)

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  • by MelindaWarren on September 3rd, 2007

    MelindaWarren

    Killer Klowns from outer space!!

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  • by staffie on September 3rd, 2007

    staffie

    i havnt got a clue. i used to have 3 clown orniments but my bf kept on going on about them being creepy, come to think of it i dont even know what happened to them.

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  • by Smart2 is back! Did you miss me? on September 3rd, 2007

    Smart2 is back! Did you miss me?

    I think Stephen King's book 'It' contributed, along with Gacy as mentioned above by Doc Max.

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  • by GuitarPlayer92 on September 3rd, 2007

    GuitarPlayer92

    I'm not sure. I don't find them scary at all. There just people dressed up funny.

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  • by dazed on September 3rd, 2007

    dazed

    I think sometimes their exaggerated movements including eye movements.You don't know what they will do next.Often they have garish colours as well.

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  • by Lemonyellow Di Vintage on September 3rd, 2007

    Lemonyellow Di Vintage

    Oh, I think John Wayne Gacy had a little something to do with it...

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  • by Mr. Josh on September 3rd, 2007

    Mr. Josh

    They're so "up in your face"

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  • by Anonymous on July 15th, 2007

    Anonymous

    I don't know why, I'm just terrified of them.

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  • by jin jang on July 15th, 2007

    jin jang

    Possibly as a child one was scared by one,because of the unusual look that a clown has.

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  • by Da Azian Boi on July 15th, 2007

    Da Azian Boi

    My friend who is afraid of clowns says that he finds them creepy.

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  • by danifae on April 16th, 2007

    danifae

    Personally, it was Seseme Street that did me in, there was this skit they ran when i was little, that showed a clown putting on his make-up normal speed (i think the point was to show kids that clowns where just people) instead of showing him taking it off, they just reversed the tape, and it went a lot faster...and i was convinced that not only was he ripping his face off, but that he was also an evil alien (active imaginations are not always a good thing) I read IT at 20, and watched the movie...scared me to no end, because IT was infact and evil clown from outerspace that ripped his face off at one point...

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  • by stubborn9 on March 27th, 2007

    stubborn9

    Parents forcing there little kids to go see them.

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  • by Patti jo on March 26th, 2007

    Patti jo

    They just have a scary look -

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  • by Light_of_Cania on February 3rd, 2009

    Light_of_Cania

    Have u ever watched "IT"? that should answer your question lol

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  • by Sodapop on February 3rd, 2009

    Sodapop

    I guess people just find them creepy. I don't, i used to collect clowns when i was younger. i have two paintings of clowns in my office. both very old.

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  • by alayla on February 3rd, 2009

    alayla

    They're just creepy looking.
    And there used to be clowns at parades where I live, and when they walked by they would shake my hand and as a joke, not let go and keep walking.

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  • by strongARM on March 28th, 2007

    strongARM

    their ugly face features

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  • by American idle on March 28th, 2007

    American idle

    I don't know. I like them.

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  • by Anonymous10316 on March 28th, 2007

    Anonymous10316

    My fear of clowns came from watching the Stephen King movie "IT" at a young age.

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  • by Nitroduck on March 28th, 2007

    Nitroduck

    for me???

    Poltergeist, and "Stay away from Captain Howdy" by Twisted Sister.


    The white paint is reminiscent of death (pale).

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  • by larrymcjon on March 28th, 2007

    larrymcjon

    People are afraid of strange things; things they aren't used to seeing. Clowns are strange, they're un-natural. That's why kids are afraid of them.

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  • by DBike on March 28th, 2007

    DBike

    movies, laughfing weard, how they dress, mostly there physical apperance

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  • by Cannin on March 28th, 2007

    Cannin

    i dunno.
    couldnt be from those big scary faces though.
    i mean, nobodys scared of abnormalities .
    oh wait...

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  • by Numphie_H on September 29th, 2011

    Numphie_H

    I think that fear of clowns is mainly caused by the media portraying them as either otherworldly beings or perverted humans after your children and not caring that its is scaring the hell out of people. Personally I watched ''IT'' at age 6 and it didn't really scare me because in the end his true form was a giant spider thing . I liked it so much that my mum bought it for me but it did scar my little brother for life, wouldn't even sleep in his own room.

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  • by Vixen on November 2nd, 2010

    Vixen

    Stephen King's "IT" scared the crap out of me as a teen. I still don't like the look of them, but totally get why some people are scared. I guess they don't know who is really under all that make up.

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  • by Numphie_H on September 29th, 2011

    Numphie_H

    Share your answer...

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  • by Habba Wants Pizza on March 26th, 2007

    Habba Wants Pizza

    clown make-up

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  • by debsmooth on March 27th, 2007

    debsmooth

    All clowns carry battery acid in their red noses and they squirt the unsuspecting when no one is looking. The only clowns I do not fear are Insane Clown Posse because they are really silly.

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  • by ihearthayden on July 15th, 2007

    ihearthayden

    well prolly cause of that movie the it. or whatever by stephen king. that movie turned me off from clowns for sure!

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  • by Galeanda on July 15th, 2007

    Galeanda

    I'm not afraid of clowns but I just don't like them or find them funny. The stupid suits with huge buttons, the red noses, white face, weird hats and giant shoes don't do a thing for me. I don't care for slapstick comedy either.

    And yeah, they ARE creepy

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  • by Cantras on August 21st, 2008

    Cantras

    I'm surprised more people *don't*.

    A strange man (or woman, generally man), in garish makeup, with crazy hair?

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  • by LeeLee Chickybabe Avenger SLAB on June 26th, 2008

    LeeLee Chickybabe Avenger SLAB

    Because you don't know who's behind the make up.
    To me...it's like a robber with a hoody and and a mask :'(
    A creepy ass mask.

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  • by vera city on October 6th, 2008

    vera city

    my daughter says she is afraid of them because you don't know who they are, she feels like they are being devious by covering who they are

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  • by Mojo-JoJo on December 1st, 2008

    Mojo-JoJo

    http://www.way2hope.org/Illnesses/coulrophobia-fear-clowns.htm

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  • by spyralspyder on June 20th, 2010

    spyralspyder

    People SAY they are afraid of clowns because it's the cool thing to be.

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  • by koldkanuck on June 26th, 2008

    koldkanuck

    Never trust anyone who hides behind a mask or face paint.

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