When you think it’s OK to get into the water, maybe it’s not. When you think I’m OK, and you’re OK, maybe we’re not. When you think you’ve heard it all, maybe you haven’t. When you think someone might play with dolls, perhaps they won’t.
There are all kinds of phobias: fear of water, open spaces, thunder, you name it!
And yes, some people have a fear of dolls.
Yes, I’m talking about Baby Nancy, the Cabbage Patch Kids, Rainbow Bright, American Girl, and all the rest, plus the no-name ones.
I loved playing with dolls when I was a child: combing their hair, bathing, and dressing them. Little baby dolls were the best, even though they weren’t famous. I was the best play mother!
Can you imagine fearing a toy, a plastic or wooden model of a human? Can you imagine fearing a doll?
What!
That’s right! Some people have a phobia of dolls.
And I’m not talking about Chucky, the murderous type. I don’t have a phobia of dolls, but I won’t play with or watch him on television or in a movie.
I’m talking about dread or fear for sweet, pretty dolls like Raggedy Ann, Barbie, and so many others.
This anxiety or panic of dolls is called pediophobia.
Pediophobia deals with inanimate objects that appear or have similarities to humans. These human-like things may include statues, life-like robots, store mannequins, and stuffed animals.
The origin of the word pediophobia is the Greek word, paidion, or little child.
Phobias are usually an intense and irrational fear or reaction to something specific. Places, situations, in addition to objects can be phobias and make an individual incapable of controlling their fear of them. People may realize their phobia is irrational, but they still have to live and deal with them.
People with phobias shouldn’t be belittled because of their fears. The phobia, though strange, isn’t imaginary. The fear and dread are real to them.
How do people cope with their phobia? Some do everything they can to avoid the source of their fears.
One of my sisters had a phobia of cotton. She would flee at the sight of a ball of cotton. Of course, like other phobias, the fear was irrational because cotton would not cause harm.
If it’s possible to have a phobia of one specific doll, I would have a phobia of Chucky because of his murdering portrayals and feats. Yes, I know Chucky can’t harm me or anyone else, but that kind of evil entertainment seems irrational.
How does popular culture contribute to pediophobia?
I don’t think popular culture does anything to diminish doll phobias.
Halloween and other movies portray ‘dolls of terror’ and turn what should be harmless toys into deadly monsters. Millions of Americans have phobias.
“You wanna play?”
Be happy and well!