A Fear of or Aversion to Clowns: It's No Laughing Matter

The fear of clowns is a lot more common than most people know. After I grew up it seemed like I kept running into one person after another that said they had a fear, or aversion to clowns. I was literally shocked at how many people told me this over the years. Even when I was a counselor I remember some counselors telling me they hated clowns. What is going on here? Why have so many people developed a sudden disliking of clowns? Well, I'm sure there are as many answers as there are people who seem to have this popular aversion. I thought I would share some of my educated theories, as well as my experiences, on why Bozo is no laughing matter to a lot of people.

I remember being a child and coming home form school and watching Bozo the clown. I thought he was cool, no problem yet. Then one day for no apparent reason I started getting a creepy feeling about clowns. I wasn't afraid of them per say, they just made me feel bad, and really creeped out. I know when I was younger I did go to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus; it was called The Greatest Show on Earth. I don't remember anything happening per say, but truthfully most people I know don't remember a lot about their childhoods, only the repetitive stories told about them when growing up by parents and grandparents. This feeling about clowns carried all the way into my adulthood.

I guess I may never really know why I developed this aversion to clowns, but I do have some theories. Now as everyone knows clowns can be a bit outgoing at times. To a really young child this weird looking clown in your face may be a little overwhelming, and even frightening. Clowns don't mean to be scary, except that one Stephen King wrote about. My guess is because a lot of younger children do attend the circus, that perhaps on occasion a clown may get a little over exuberant and scare a small child. This seems to make perfect sense to me. Of course seeing a movie with a crazed clown could do the job too.

One thing I do remember, is when I was growing up we used to watch The Red Skelton show. They had a clown on there that would sometimes get really sad. I do remember when seeing that, it made me feel really bad and depressed. Now maybe this wouldn't bother most children, but I am a certified empathic. That just means I feel what other people feel, very deeply. It was both a blessing and a curse when I was a counselor for children and family. So, perhaps that was the reason for my strange aversion to clowns. By the way, I'm not fond of the clown who sings Pagliacci either. You know, the one in the late nineteenth century tragic clown opera.

The good news is, all of a sudden one-day clowns didn't bother me anymore. Is that weird or what? I think the psyche can be so fascinating, as well as confusing. I suppose if I ever wanted a definitive answer to why when I was younger I all of a sudden disliked clowns, I could go through hypnotherapy. However, the older you get the more you figure out, what's done is done, and digging up the past doesn't change a darn thing. Yes, I don't believe in psychoanalysis either. Now, I wonder how I'll do if my grandson asks me to take him to the circus????