Makeup and pop culture have made people afraid of clowns. Free Technical Library News

NEWS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, NOVELTY IN ELECTRONICS
Free technical library / timeline

Makeup and pop culture made people afraid of clowns

16.03.2023

British researchers have identified the main causes of the widespread fear of clowns in the world. They called the difficulty in recognizing the emotions of a clown, which hides the pronounced makeup, as well as the portrayal of clowns as negative characters in the media.

The fear of clowns is called coulrophobia, and it is common among both children and adults. One of the most comprehensive studies found that about half of the human population is afraid of clowns to some extent, and for 5 percent this fear is panic. Why characters, whose purpose is to entertain and bring joy, for a large number of people are a source of negative emotions, has not been sufficiently studied, although various hypotheses are put forward. Uncertainty motivated psychologists at the University of South Wales to conduct their own research.

The scientists analyzed the existing scientific literature on the topic of coulrophobia, identifying hypotheses for its explanation, and created their own questionnaire to determine the reasons for the fear of clowns. 528 volunteers were invited to pass it, saying that they were at least a little afraid of clowns.

One of the most obvious reasons to be wary of clowns is negative experiences with them, especially in childhood. However, the results indicate that this factor has the least effect on the occurrence of coulrophobia. Also, the presence of another coulrophobe in the family does not contribute to fear. Most of all, the unpredictability of the clown's emotions, which are hidden by bright makeup, and their coverage in the mass media turned out to be connected with the phobia.

As for makeup, it is difficult to capture the true mood of a person and predict their intentions, such as anger, which can mean danger. The effect is enhanced by the unpredictability of the clowns' behavior, which is part of their performance. It tends to cause tension and anxiety. As for the influence of the media, the fact is that in books and films clowns are often portrayed as negative characters, for example, the famous Pennywise from Stephen King's It and the film adaptations of the same name.

A very pale face and deformed, red-accentuated features are also subconsciously evoked in people immediately, in part due to the association with morbidity and unnaturalness, which is explained by the eerie valley effect.

<< Back: NASA's hypersonic plane set a speed record 16.03.2023

>> Forward: Reduction of emissions from metallurgical enterprises 15.03.2023

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

The existence of an entropy rule for quantum entanglement has been proven 09.05.2024

Quantum mechanics continues to amaze us with its mysterious phenomena and unexpected discoveries. Recently, Bartosz Regula from the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing and Ludovico Lamy from the University of Amsterdam presented a new discovery that concerns quantum entanglement and its relation to entropy. Quantum entanglement plays an important role in modern quantum information science and technology. However, the complexity of its structure makes understanding and managing it challenging. Regulus and Lamy's discovery shows that quantum entanglement follows an entropy rule similar to that for classical systems. This discovery opens new perspectives in the field of quantum information science and technology, deepening our understanding of quantum entanglement and its connection to thermodynamics. The results of the study indicate the possibility of reversibility of entanglement transformations, which could greatly simplify their use in various quantum technologies. Opening a new rule ... >>

Mini air conditioner Sony Reon Pocket 5 09.05.2024

Summer is a time for relaxation and travel, but often the heat can turn this time into an unbearable torment. Meet a new product from Sony - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-air conditioner, which promises to make summer more comfortable for its users. Sony has introduced a unique device - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-conditioner, which provides body cooling on hot days. With it, users can enjoy coolness anytime, anywhere by simply wearing it around their neck. This mini air conditioner is equipped with automatic adjustment of operating modes, as well as temperature and humidity sensors. Thanks to innovative technologies, Reon Pocket 5 adjusts its operation depending on the user's activity and environmental conditions. Users can easily adjust the temperature using a dedicated mobile app connected via Bluetooth. Additionally, specially designed T-shirts and shorts are available for convenience, to which a mini air conditioner can be attached. The device can oh ... >>

Energy from space for Starship 08.05.2024

Producing solar energy in space is becoming more feasible with the advent of new technologies and the development of space programs. The head of the startup Virtus Solis shared his vision of using SpaceX's Starship to create orbital power plants capable of powering the Earth. Startup Virtus Solis has unveiled an ambitious project to create orbital power plants using SpaceX's Starship. This idea could significantly change the field of solar energy production, making it more accessible and cheaper. The core of the startup's plan is to reduce the cost of launching satellites into space using Starship. This technological breakthrough is expected to make solar energy production in space more competitive with traditional energy sources. Virtual Solis plans to build large photovoltaic panels in orbit, using Starship to deliver the necessary equipment. However, one of the key challenges ... >>

New method for creating powerful batteries 08.05.2024

With the development of technology and the expanding use of electronics, the issue of creating efficient and safe energy sources is becoming increasingly urgent. Researchers at the University of Queensland have unveiled a new approach to creating high-power zinc-based batteries that could change the landscape of the energy industry. One of the main problems with traditional water-based rechargeable batteries was their low voltage, which limited their use in modern devices. But thanks to a new method developed by scientists, this drawback has been successfully overcome. As part of their research, scientists turned to a special organic compound - catechol. It turned out to be an important component that can improve battery stability and increase its efficiency. This approach has led to a significant increase in the voltage of zinc-ion batteries, making them more competitive. According to scientists, such batteries have several advantages. They have b ... >>

Alcohol content of warm beer 07.05.2024

Beer, as one of the most common alcoholic drinks, has its own unique taste, which can change depending on the temperature of consumption. A new study by an international team of scientists has found that beer temperature has a significant impact on the perception of alcoholic taste. The study, led by materials scientist Lei Jiang, found that at different temperatures, ethanol and water molecules form different types of clusters, which affects the perception of alcoholic taste. At low temperatures, more pyramid-like clusters form, which reduces the pungency of the "ethanol" taste and makes the drink taste less alcoholic. On the contrary, as the temperature increases, the clusters become more chain-like, resulting in a more pronounced alcoholic taste. This explains why the taste of some alcoholic drinks, such as baijiu, can change depending on temperature. The data obtained opens up new prospects for beverage manufacturers, ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Electronic jersey for a football player 19.12.2001

Researchers from the University of Birmingham in the UK presented their development - a jersey for football players, in which a wearable computer is sewn in, which can record a number of medical indicators (pressure, pulse, temperature, etc.).

However, the creators of the miracle T-shirt consider the system for determining the location of players developed by them to be the most important achievement. By analyzing the data obtained in this way, coaches will be able to draw conclusions not only about the health of the player, but also about his performance on the field.

Now work is underway to reduce the size and weight of the T-shirt. However, most of all, scientists are puzzling over how to protect the computer during washing, because it is assumed that the T-shirt will be used more than once.

See full Archive of science and technology news, new electronics

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews