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Study Shows Children Fear Clowns
Researchers at the University of Sheffield found that clowns are universally disliked by children when they began examining how to improve the decor of a local children's hospital.
The study was reported in the Nursing Standard magazine and displayed a poll of 250 children between the ages of four and sixteen.
All 250 children were patients of the hospital's children's ward. The poll concluded that all 250 patients disliked clowns, even the older children.
"As adults we make assumptions about what works for children," said Penny Curtis, a senior lecturer in research at the university.
The fear of clowns that the children are experiencing is called Coulrophobia, which is the fear of clowns and mimes. There are many assumptions as to why children fear clowns. The media sometimes portrays clowns as evil with movies such as Poltergeist and Killer Clowns from Outer Space. Of course most children between the ages of four and sixteen have most likely not seen such horror films. However, the television show, Rugrats, portrays Chuckie as being afraid of clowns.
In a more general sense, scary characters in any movie or television show use face masks and exaggerated facial expressions. This shows some similarity to the obscured facial features of clowns.
Most analysts and psychologist believe that children are scared of clowns because of their exaggerated face paintings. Clown acts may also show the clown going through physical pain. Most comedy has it's origins in personal pain and slap-stick comedy in particular emphasizes physical pain.
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I can't beleive they needed to study this. I am not afraid of clowns because of any stupid movie, but because I had this clown that sat on a swing that hung from my ceiling. It was yellow and had this wicked scary smile. One night it started swinging on its own and I ripped the damn thing down from the ceiling and threw it in my closet. I still need to sleep with the closets shut or I get nightmares. I wasn't that young, 11 or 12. Freaky thing. Clowns are just scary. My friend is a clown, and he gets very upset about the stigma attached.
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just shows you how wise children are.
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@ Bob Ewing
just shows you how wise children are.
8 ) -
Not too frightening, is he?
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The only good clown is Tim Curry, Kudos if you know what I'm talking about lol. But honestly, I can totally understand why kids would dislike clowns, especially in a hospital.
Think about it this way, you are young and you would rather be outside playing with friends but instead you are hospitalized. Therefore you are already feeling a bit down. The atmosphere is never great in a hospital and also you don't have the comfort of your own room. So naturally the only thing you want to do is either sleep or just keep to yourself for a bit.
But suddenly...in bursts some character who is clashing with the hospitals monochromatic scheme of white, gray and greenish-ugly. This person is bouncing around as if they have something up their arse, and they just made things even worse for you. All you want to do is sleep and keep to yourself and someone is intruding when you feel vulnerable (depending on your visiting reasons).
But yeah, I can totally see why the older kids hate it, they totally know that the person behind the suit would rather be doing something else with their life and they want to punch them for even being there.
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As a child, I had not seen any television or movies. I did dislike clowns though. I always found them thoroughly un-funny, and rather disgusting with all their paint and their baggy clothes.
Later on, when I was in art school, we were supposed to adore "le clown triste", a concept I found so stereotypical and so shockingly lacking in originality, that I wanted nothing to do with it.
The same goes with mimes. Their white faces and stupid expressions, coupled with always the same predictable stupid actions also did not scare me, they simply disgusted me.
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I can't hink of one single person that I know that "likes" clowns at all. I don't even enjoy these types of mask that can be hung on a wall:
  Vote it up!
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(BTW...there was also the Stephen King moive "It" that had a freaky looking clown!) -
@ Debra Myers (skyangel)
I can't hink of one single person that I know that "likes" clowns at all. So then comes the big question: if no-one likes clowns, how come they are still around?
Let the GROC-movement be started! [Get Rid Of Clowns!] -
@ Bart B. Van Bockstaele
So then comes the big question: if no-one likes clowns, how come they are still around?
Let the GROC-movement be started! [Get Rid Of Clowns!]
I'm sure there are just as many people out there that "do" like clowns...! They have been a part of history and circuses for how long? -
@ Debra Myers (skyangel)
I'm sure there are just as many people out there that "do" like clowns...! They have been a part of history and circuses for how long? That is a possibility. I have always seen them as cheap fillers that no one really liked but accepted as part of the deal. I may be wrong. -
@ Bart B. Van Bockstaele
That is a possibility. I have always seen them as cheap fillers that no one really liked but accepted as part of the deal. I may be wrong.
And truthfully, their antics are more stupid than funny, IMO. -
Now this is an interesting topic, Ashley! Poor Sky – I think you’re a bit outnumbered! My brother’s a clown – a musical one. Goes to old folks’ places and performs, sings the old songs, guitar, harmonica, piano, clown dancing, getting the old folks dancing. Sometimes does kids’ groups too. Painted me up once and took me along, but I don’t do much.
Some old folks really dislike clowns, probably for the reasons already stated. I never thought about it – but now I think clowning needs to rethink where it wants to go, to redesign itself, so it brings more pleasure and less angst.
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@ tonystep
Now this is an interesting topic, Ashley! Poor Sky – I think you’re a bit outnumbered! My brother’s a clown – a musical one. Goes to old folks’ places and performs, sings the old songs, guitar, harmonica, piano, clown dancing, getting the old folks dancing. Sometimes does kids’ groups too. Painted me up once and took me along, but I don’t do much.
Some old folks really dislike clowns, probably for the reasons already stated. I never thought about it – but now I think clowning needs to rethink where it wants to go, to redesign itself, so it brings more pleasure and less angst.
That's okay, tony...I realize that clowns have been around since forever, and that there are many adults and children that do like/love them. No worries...! :) -
I can believe it! They scared me when I was little. But putting some fancy scientifibabble phobia name on it is outrageous.
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Hey, Restless, they gotta have fun with their naming stuff. "fear of clowns" just wouldn't cut it. Besides, if they don't use their Latin and Greek for naming things, what else would they ever use it for? You want them to have wasted all that heavy learning?
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