Pediophobia
Definition: a fear of dolls; a fear of children
Etymology: Greek paidion ‘child’
When I read the description for the latest episode of Criminal Minds I didn’t know how creepy the episode would actually be.
warning… spoilers…
“As SSA Hotchner struggles with his return to work, the team is called upon to profile a suspect with an unusual personal obsession who is abducting certain types of women and turning them into real-life dolls. ”
Next to my clown phobia, bug phobia, lessened social phobia, and various other phobias (I could write a book), there’s this thing called Pediophobia. Now the first thing you might think when you hear or read the name for that phobia, you might think it is a fear of pedophiles, but the only thing they really have in common is that the ‘pedio’ and ‘pedo’ part is derived from the Greek Paidion, meaning child.
In this form, Pediophobia is listed as a fear of dolls, or fear of children. The former pretty much applies to me. While it isn’t the highest ranking phobia on my list, that would be the bug phobia, it can, at times be pretty severe, especially when it catches me off guard, as the Criminal Minds episodes The Uncanny Valley did. While the subject and the why and how were heartbreaking, I couldn’t help but get a little frightened at the sight of how the ‘dolls’ were made.
I think the phobia stems from my youth and a little Chucky as well. I can’t help but feel as if their creepy little eyes follow you around EVERYWHERE. Waiting for the right moment when you have your back turned so they can ATTACK YOU WITH A TINY SHARP DOLL KNIFE.
Oh, and also, that description of Hotchner struggling in this episode are incorrect Wikipedia!
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