Our research shows that coulrophobia, or fear of clowns, is mainly triggered by being unable to understand their facial expressions.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Articles on Fear
Displaying 1 - 20 of 107 articles
A large proportion of Americans is willing to support leaders who would violate democratic principles.
Prejudice and stigma can discourage the communities most affected by infectious diseases from seeking care. Inclusive public health messaging can prevent misinformation and guide the most vulnerable.
Phobias are when fears become excessive and interrupt daily life. A new review shows one longer session of exposure is just as effective and more time-efficient than multiple shorter sessions.
Many surfers have seen sharks while surfing in the ocean. Yet, unlike the general public, 60% are not afraid of sharks. It’s a finding that offers an insight into attitudes to shark conservation.
Today’s creepy clowns are not a divergence from tradition, but a return to it.
Like clockwork, September crime news is often cast as an ominous sign of what could happen on Halloween.
Research shows Sunday is our unhappiest day of the week – so it’s no wonder so many of us feel anxious on a Sunday evening.
In 2013 stories emerged of gangs stealing plasma TV screens to use to make street drugs. It’s a myth, but it tells us something about South Africa’s social anxieties.
Social media platforms can be put to great use when it comes to promoting sexual health. But invoking threats and fear limits information reach and impact.
How well people exercise their agency will determine the severity of global warming – and its consequences.
Overcoming this fear requires personal empowerment and knowledge. But the trick is defining whose power and what knowledge.
There are many reasons why people may feel intimidated, but that doesn’t have to stop you from working out.
Comparing ourselves to people who are worse off than we are on social media should make us feel better. The opposite is true.
The majority of front page reports were negative in tone, seeing very little possibility for individual agency and self-efficacy. This can amplify public anxiety and fear.
Psychological theory and evidence do not support fear appeals overall.
The strong disapproval of the South African government’s handling of the pandemic is a warning that crafting persuasive pro-vaccine messages is not enough.
History holds some lessons about when scaring people to change their behavior works. Two public health experts offer a case for caution right now.
Despite moments of hope, worries about the present and fears that the future may be even worse have been rising for decades. What can geopolitics teach us about the global impact of fear?
One medication-free technique uses your emotions to release stress.
Top contributors
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Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Wayne State University
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Senior Lecturer in Psychology, University of the Sunshine Coast
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Leslie Henderson is a Friend of The Conversation.
Professor of Physiology and Neurobiology, Dean of Faculty Affairs, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College
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Professor and Chair, Department of Journalism, Stellenbosch University
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Professor of Psychology, Skidmore College
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Cornelia H. Dudley Professor of Psychology, Knox College
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Senior lecturer in Pharmacology, University of Adelaide
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Foundation Director, Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes, Deakin University
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University of Newcastle
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Research Fellow, University of Exeter, University of Exeter
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Researcher, Macquarie University
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Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool
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Lecturer in Parasitology and Evolutionary Biology, University of New England
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Cartier Chaired Professor of Behavioural Sciences, Full Professor, Department of Entrepreneurship, ESCP Business School
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Senior Lecturer in Linguistics, Monash University
