Think about your worst childhood memory: it probably involves a clown. Luckily, the world’s greatest minds have come together to figure out why exactly we fear the makeup-ridden beasts the way that we do. 987 people were polled for a “Fear of Clowns Questionnaire” and after all of the answers were tabulated, this is what science came up with.
- An eerie or unsettling feeling due to clowns’ makeup making them look not-quite-human. A similar response is sometimes seen with dolls or mannequins.
- Clowns’ exaggerated facial features convey a direct sense of threat.
- Clown makeup hides emotional signals and creates uncertainty.
- The color of clown makeup reminds us of death, infection or blood injury, and evokes disgust or avoidance.
- Clowns’ unpredictable behavior makes us uncomfortable.
- Fear of clowns has been learned from family members.
- Negative portrayals of clowns in popular culture.
- A frightening experience with a clown.
Thank you to our friends at Science Alert for providing this incredibly insightful data.
