Coulrophobia
The term coulrophobia, the fear of clowns, is a recent coining in response to a surprisingly large amount of interest in the condition, particularly on the Internet, where websites have been developed which are specifically devoted to the issue. The word has no significant coverage in printed dictionaries, but try an Internet search on coulrophobia and you’ll discover a host of websites by coulrophobes (people who fear clowns), the condition being one of the most remarked-upon phobias on the Internet. Much of the interest has originated with a man called Rodney Blackwell – a web designer who said he was seriously afflicted with the phobia. So he decided to set up several website featuring message boards where fellow coulrophobes could share experiences and he could make some money selling merchandise bearing an ‘I hate Clowns’ logo. Causes of the phobia In discussions of causes of coulrophobia seem to agree that the most fear-inducing aspect of clowns is the heavy makeup which, accompanied by the bulbous nose and weird color of hair, that completely conceal the wearer’s identity.