Coulrophobia: An Investigation into the Prevalence, Origins and Psychological Basis of the Fear of Clowns

<b>Introduction</b>: Coulrophobia, the fear of clowns, is an anxiety disorder which can be categorised as a specific phobia within the subtype of “Other” in the DSM-5-TR (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). Although clown fear has been widely discussed in popular media, it remains underexplored in academic literature. Prevalence rates within the adult general population and other population sub-groups are not well established. Existing literature has inferred prevalence rates through studies exploring medical clowns and hospitalised paediatric populations. The origins of this fear are also poorly understood, and several competing hypotheses regarding its aetiology can be obtained from the literature. This PhD research is the first to investigate the prevalence, severity, and aetiology of clown fear in an international adult population, aiming to provide a basis for understanding this sparse topic for both academic literature and clinicians.<br/><br/><b>Methods</b>: A mixed-methods online survey was conducted using an opportunistic sample of international participants (N = 1023) to investigate the prevalence, severity and potential origins of the fear of clowns. Two new questionnaires were developed for this research: the Fear of Clowns Questionnaire (FCQ) and the Origin of Fear of Clowns Questionnaire (OFCQ). Psychometric properties revealed the FCQ had high reliability with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.98 and a Spearman-Brown coefficient value of 0.97. Similarly, the OFCQ achieved high internal consistency with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.96 and a Spearman-Brown coefficient value of 0.96. Various demographic factors, including age, gender, and country of birth, were assessed. Qualitative data was collected, asking participants if they could recall a memory or provide additional information relating to their fear. Respondents who reported some level of fear and provided additional information (N=204) were analysed using Thematic Analysis (TA). Findings from quantitative and qualitative results were triangulated and discussed in Chapter 7.<br/><br/><div><b>Results</b>: The data from 987 participants were analysed, comprising 790 females (80%) and 197 males (20%), aged between 18 and 77 years (M = 29.79; SD = 11.08). Overall, 53.5% of participants self-reported some level of clown fear, with 5.1% indicating that they were “Extremely Afraid”. Females reported a higher prevalence of clown fear (29.6%) and greater severity compared to males (19.3%) according to the FCQ. Individuals from the Asian continent reported a higher frequency of fear, while age negatively correlated with clown fear. For the 528 participants who reported some level of clown fear, in order of highest mean ratings, the following origin factors contributed to the development: Hidden Emotional Signals (M = 5.20), Negative Media Portrayals (M = 5.03), Unpredictable Behaviour (M = 4.96) and The Uncanny Valley Effect (M = 4.78). Thematic Analysis also confirmed five consistent themes (N = 204): (1) The Clowns’ Appearance, (2) Displays of Erratic Behaviour, (3) The Uncanny Valley Effect, (4) Negative Media &amp; Films, and (5) Direct Frightening Experience. Principal component analysis of the FCQ and OFCQ was completed. The FCQ identified two factors: “Reactions”, incorporating emotional and behavioural responses, and “Preoccupations”, which reflect cognitive elements and preoccupied thoughts about clowns. The analysis of the OFCQ supported a multifactorial origin explanation, revealing four factors: “Visceral Reactions to the Grotesque or Unusual”, “Unpredictability of Behaviour and Uncertainty about Harmful Intent”, “Negative Media Portrayals” and “Familial or Cultural Transmission”.</div><div><br/></div><div><b>Conclusions</b>: This thesis was the first to investigate the prevalence, severity and aetiology of the clown fear phenomenon in the international general population, and two original questionnaires were constructed for this purpose. A substantial number of participants completed the study (N =1023). The findings established that coulrophobia is prevalent in the adult population, and a comparable extreme fear rate (5.1%) was observed to other specific phobias. Overall, a multi-factorial explanation can be attributed to clown fear, including the appearance and behaviour of clowns, as well as the negative media representations. Future research directions on this topic are discussed in the final chapter (8) of this thesis. This PhD research and the novel questionnaires created aim to facilitate a greater understanding of this fear and inspire further empirical work exploring the implications of coulrophobia.</div>

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Doctoral Thesis

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Student thesis

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Scorey, Sophie

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Tyson, Philip
• Davies, Shakiela
• Greville, William

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/9ac57162-405d-4a19-9a3a-b6274f16ebe9

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/9ac57162-405d-4a19-9a3a-b6274f16ebe9