As Halloween approaches, the number of horror movies on TV will multiply. Some will surely feature maniacal, homicidal clowns. Why is that? And why do so many of us shudder at the sight of a harmless person in face paint, a big red nose, and floppy shoes?
Rest assured, psychologists have looked into the question. They tell us that clowns with a darker side actually have a long history—starting in ancient Egypt. In the early 1800s, an English entertainer named Joseph Grimaldi became a wildly popular clown. His private life was wretched, however. Family tragedy, alcoholism, and physical disability caused by his on-stage antics led to poverty and an untimely death. The famous author Charles Dickens wrote about Grimaldi, creating in the public’s eye the clown who is a manic but cheerless figure.
That melancholy creation has never quite gone away. After the sad clown, like Emmitt Kelly’s “Weary Willie” in the 1930s–1950s, clown images became more sinister. Examples include the murderous clown doll in Poltergeist, Stephen King’s deadly Pennywise the Clown from It, and Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight. Psychologists suggest that such negative versions are replacing positive clown images.
One reason we find these characters so creepy is that they are disguised by make-up. Adults learn not to trust people who hide their true selves. But how do children feel about clowns? Scholars’ opinions differ. One psychologist observed that at about age two, children start feeling anxiety about strangers. The fact that a child can’t always separate reality from fantasy can make a clown very frightening indeed. A 2008 study in England reported that a majority of kids aged four to sixteen disliked or even feared clowns. By contrast, an Italian study indicates that interacting with clowns helps reduce anxiety in children who are scheduled for minor surgery.
Image Credit: © Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division
Related Links
- The History and Psychology of Clowns Being Scary
From the article’s introduction: “You aren’t alone in your fear of makeup-clad entertainers; people have been frightened by clowns for centuries.”
(Source: Smithsonian.com, August 1, 2013) - Fear of Clowns: Yes, It’s Real
Listen to an interview with the author of the Smithsonian article.
(Source: NPR.org, August 6, 2013) - World Exclusive: Northampton Clown Talks to the Chron about His Appearances
A man dressed like the dreaded Pennywise pops up on the streets of Northampton, England, and the town freaks out. Read the interview with the clown who wants to remain anonymous.
(Source: Northampton Chronicle; accessed October 1, 2013)
i will beat the clowns
chuckes going down
scary
i love creepy homicidle clowns
i havent had a concussion yet and i play basketball and volleyball
clowns are scary
Clowns are really scary I HATE CLOWNS!!!!!!!!
frightening
i love clown i don’t think they are scary
i hate them…
hey
hey
Okay, WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH CLOWNS!?
clowns scare the bejesus out of me
Who wrote this article??
They scare the Chris out of me
clowns are ok sometime but some make a fool out of you on your birthday those I hate
oh ya
I HATE CLOWNS !!!!!
clowns are both fun and scary
clowns are freaky and how do fit in that car
clowns stalk you all
clowns actually really freak the crap out of me,
no offense
Do you want to see a magic trick?