Scientists from the School of Psychology and Therapeutic Research, University of South Wales, UK,
They developed a questionnaire to studyindividual reactions to clowns and the relationship between coulrophobia and demographic factors such as age and gender. There were questions related to the appearance and facial features of clowns, their behavior, the portrayal of clowns in popular culture, and negative experiences with a clown in the past.
For the study, scientists selected a sample of 987participants aged from 18 to 72 years, the ratio is 80% women and 20% men. Just over half, 53.5%, of participants said they were somewhat afraid of clowns, and 5% said they were “very afraid” of them.
Women were found to be more afraid of clowns than men, which is consistent with existing research on other phobias. Just like with other phobias, coulrophobia decreases with age.
However, a new study provides someinteresting results. Negative experiences with a clown had the least influence on the development of coulrophobia. Negative portrayals of clowns in popular culture have become a more influential factor. But what was most important to the study participants was that the clown's made-up face hides real emotional signals. This makes intentions difficult to interpret and frightens people.
The study has important implications for understandingthe reasons underlying the widespread phenomenon of coulrophobia. But the research naturally leads to more questions that are worth exploring in the future.
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