Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionCharacteristicsDiagnosisCausesTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Characteristics
Diagnosis
Causes
Treatment
Fear of dolls, orpediophobia, is considered an anxiety disorder known as specificphobia. Pediophobia is a type ofautomatonophobia, which is a fear of inanimate objects that appear human or a fear of anything that simulates a real human being.
This article discusses the characteristics of pediophobia, as well as its causes, treatment, and ways to cope.
Carol Yepes / Getty Images
Defining Pediophobia
The word “pediophobia” comes from the Greek wordpaidion,which means little child.
People with pediophobia fear interaction with dolls or other inanimate objects. Even just seeing a humanlike object may cause severepanic. The reaction and response can vary significantly from person to person.
Inanimate objects can include dolls or anything else that appears humanlike, including:
Prevalence of Specific PhobiasSpecific phobias are considered a type ofanxiety disorder. In the United States, 12.5% of adults will experience a specific phobia in their lifetime.
Prevalence of Specific Phobias
Specific phobias are considered a type ofanxiety disorder. In the United States, 12.5% of adults will experience a specific phobia in their lifetime.
Characteristics of Pediophobia
A specific phobia occurs when a person has a persistent and extreme fear of certain objects or situations. Typically, people who have a specific phobia do their best to avoid encountering the cause of their phobia, which may be an effective coping strategy in the short run.
Although people with phobias are usually aware that there isn’t a real threat or danger from the object, they are powerless to stop their extensive or irrational fear. It’s important to note that however irrational the fear and sense of danger may seem to others, it is very real to the person experiencing the phobia.
In the case of pediophobia, the phobic object is dolls, which may include humanlike dolls or stuffed toys.
Like most phobias, pediophobia can cause an array of mental and physical symptoms. These can include:
If you or your child experience any of these symptoms when encountering dolls, it may be due to pediophobia.
To be diagnosed with pediophobia, a mental health professional will use the fifth edition of the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM-5-TR), the American Psychiatric Association’s official handbook, to diagnose mental health conditions like specific phobias.
A diagnosis of pediophobia usually involves a mental health professional confirming the following:
Multiple Phobias
List of Common and Unusual Phobias
What Causes Pediophobia?
Traditionally, a traumatic experience or some kind of negative experience with the phobic object is what triggers specific phobias like pediophobia. Direct circumstances, such as a negative experience with a doll or if a doll was used to scare a child, may cause a person to grow up and develop pediophobia.
Other causes of pedophobia include indirect experiences that stimulate and arouse fear. This may include horror films in which dolls are depicted in a negative, harmful, or terrifying way. Halloween can also bring on intense fear.
In some spiritual practices, dolls have been used to render a “curse” toward others, so for some people—even without a direct experience—dolls may represent evil.
There can also be familial, genetic, environmental, or developmental factors that play a part in developing pediophobia.
The Uncanny Valley HypothesisDuring the 1970s, a Japanese roboticist, Masahiro Mori, proposed the phenomenon of the uncanny valley, which is the eerie sensation, even revulsion, that occurs when we see robots carefully designed to look human.Even for those who do not experience pediophobia, the uncanny valley hypothesis suggests that humanlike beings become scarier the more profoundly human they appear.
The Uncanny Valley Hypothesis
During the 1970s, a Japanese roboticist, Masahiro Mori, proposed the phenomenon of the uncanny valley, which is the eerie sensation, even revulsion, that occurs when we see robots carefully designed to look human.Even for those who do not experience pediophobia, the uncanny valley hypothesis suggests that humanlike beings become scarier the more profoundly human they appear.
Studies have shown that psychotherapy, or a combination of therapy and medication, is most effective in treating specific phobias.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is the most common type of therapy recommended for specific phobias.
This type of therapy explores a person’s automatic thoughts and the feelings and behaviors that result from those thoughts. Examining how you think can help you choose a different thought or response.
Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy, which involves increasing contact with the object a person fears and avoids, was considered the gold standard for phobia treatment for years. It remains the treatment of choice, although this approach might be less effective in the long term than once thought.
Medications
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are recommended for treating anxiety disorders and may help in treating specific phobias.
The SSRI drugs include:
The SNRI drugs include Effexor (venlafaxine) and Cymbalta (duloxetine).
SSRIs vs. SNRIs: How They Work
Coping With Pediophobia
The simplest way to manage a specific phobia like pediophobia is to avoid the triggering phobic object (in this case, dolls). This can be difficult when these encounters come up unexpectedly.
In those cases, there are some self-help coping techniques that may be beneficial, including:
Seeking Help for PhobiasWhen a phobia is disruptive or limiting your life, it may help to seek professional support. You can contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineonline or call1-800-662-4357for more information on how to find support and treatment options specific in your area.For more mental health resources, including a helpful list of links and hotline numbers, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Seeking Help for Phobias
When a phobia is disruptive or limiting your life, it may help to seek professional support. You can contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineonline or call1-800-662-4357for more information on how to find support and treatment options specific in your area.For more mental health resources, including a helpful list of links and hotline numbers, see ourNational Helpline Database.
When a phobia is disruptive or limiting your life, it may help to seek professional support. You can contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineonline or call1-800-662-4357for more information on how to find support and treatment options specific in your area.
For more mental health resources, including a helpful list of links and hotline numbers, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Summary
Pediophobia can be an upsetting condition, especially for young children who may be exposed to dolls regularly during play. Treatment and coping methods are available. Pediophobia can be treated similarly to other phobias, such as with therapy and/or medication.
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