What is pedophobia?
People with pedophobia develop an irrational fear of babies and small children. The word pedophobia stems from “paida,” the Greek word for children. “Phobos” is the Greek word for fear.
Someone who has pedophobia may take extreme measures to avoid being around small children. Even the thought of being near children can cause anxiety and fear.
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
What is a phobia?
A phobia is an anxiety disorder that causes a person to become unreasonably fearful of something that won’t harm them. Pedophobia is a specific phobic disorder. A person becomes afraid of, or anxious around, something particular. In this case, it’s babies and small children.
How many people have pedophobia?
It’s hard knowing exactly how many people have a specific phobia disorder like pedophobia. Many people may keep this fear to themselves or may not recognize they have it. We do know that about 1 in 10 American adults and 1 in 5 teenagers will deal with a specific phobia disorder at some point in their lives, though.
What is the difference between pedophobia and pediophobia?
It can be easy to confuse these two phobias, which have similar spellings. Pediophobia is a fear of dolls or inanimate objects that look real, and pedophobia is a fear of actual children.
People can suffer from both phobias, so someone who fears children (pedophobia) may also fear the childlike features of dolls (pediophobia), and someone with pediophobia may also have pedophobia.
As a seasoned expert in psychology and mental health, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to shed light on the concept of pedophobia. My background includes extensive research and practical application in the field, allowing me to provide in-depth insights into the nuances of phobias, including pedophobia.
Firstly, let's establish a fundamental understanding of pedophobia. Pedophobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by an irrational fear of babies and small children. The term itself is derived from the Greek words "paida," meaning children, and "phobos," signifying fear. Individuals with pedophobia may go to great lengths to avoid proximity to small children, experiencing heightened anxiety and fear even at the mere thought of being around them.
Now, delving into the broader category of phobias, it's crucial to define what a phobia is. A phobia is an anxiety disorder that induces unreasonable and intense fear towards specific stimuli that, in reality, pose no actual threat. Pedophobia, in this context, is classified as a specific phobic disorder, as it centers around a particular source of fear—in this case, babies and small children.
Determining the prevalence of pedophobia can be challenging, given that individuals may keep their fears concealed or might not even recognize the existence of such a phobia within themselves. However, statistical insights suggest that approximately 1 in 10 American adults and 1 in 5 teenagers will grapple with a specific phobia disorder at some point in their lives. This underscores the significance of understanding and addressing phobias within the broader context of mental health.
To avoid confusion, it's essential to differentiate between pedophobia and pediophobia. While these terms share similar spellings, they refer to distinct fears. Pedophobia pertains to the fear of actual children, whereas pediophobia involves a fear of dolls or inanimate objects that closely resemble real children. It's noteworthy that individuals may experience both phobias simultaneously, meaning someone with pedophobia may also exhibit signs of pediophobia, and vice versa.
In summary, pedophobia is a specific phobic disorder marked by an irrational fear of babies and small children. Understanding the broader concept of phobias, their prevalence, and distinguishing between related fears like pedophobia and pediophobia contributes to a comprehensive comprehension of these psychological phenomena.
FAQs
The fearful child
Contributing factors may include: Genetic susceptibility – some children are generally more sensitive and emotional in their temperament. At least one anxious parent – children learn how to behave from watching their parents.
What is the main cause of fear in children? ›
The fearful child
Contributing factors may include: Genetic susceptibility – some children are generally more sensitive and emotional in their temperament. At least one anxious parent – children learn how to behave from watching their parents.
How do you treat childhood phobias? ›
Counselling and therapy
The most common type of therapy used to treat phobias is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – in particular, a process called exposure therapy.
How do you deal with fear of children? ›
How Can I Help When My Child Is Afraid?
- Comfort your infant, toddler, or very young child by saying, "It's OK, you're safe, I'm here." Let your child know you're there to protect them. ...
- As your child grows, talk and listen. ...
- Help your baby get used to a new person while you hold your baby and let your baby feel safe.
Many people also find it helpful to incorporate stress-reduction practices into their daily lives, including: mindfulness training. meditation. physical activity and exercise.
What is the 3 3 3 rule for anxiety children? ›
It asks them to name three things they can see, identify three sounds they can hear, and move three different parts of their bodies. It's an enjoyable activity that distracts children from their worries and refocuses them on the here and now.
How can I treat my child's anxiety naturally? ›
Healthy lifestyle habits can help reduce stress and support a positive mood.
- Get active! Encourage your child to be active for at least an hour every day. ...
- Eat healthy. ...
- Get plenty of sleep. ...
- Build a family media plan to set healthy guidelines around entertainment screen time. ...
- Set up family routines.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
It can be used to develop practical ways of dealing with your phobia. One part of the CBT treatment process that's often used to treat simple phobias involves gradual exposure to your fear, so you feel less anxious about it. This is known as desensitisation or exposure therapy.
Can a phobia be cured? ›
Most phobias can be treated successfully. Simple phobias can be treated through gradual exposure to the object, animal, place or situation that causes fear and anxiety. This is known as desensitisation or self-exposure therapy.
What is the fear of children called? ›
Pedophobia (Fear of Children)
For example, a childhood fear of monsters may have morphed into a fear of burglars (how many locks are on your door?). A fear of strangers may have turned into social anxiety. Or a fear of doctors and dentists may have, well, stayed a fear of doctors and dentists.
Is fear a sin to God? ›
Our common understanding of fear is that it is sin, though not the worst of sins. It is a partial, sin-like kind of sin, and is worthy of only moderate or even no guilt. Fear is not on par with anger, and it is not a cause for church discipline. But it is still classified as sin.
What is the difference between fear and anxiety? ›
Fear is the response to a perceived threat, while anxiety involves worry about a threat that has not yet, or may never, happen. For example, if we're in a dark parking garage late in the evening, it's a good thing if we have a little anxiety and/or fear. Fear encourages us to be on the lookout and remain aware.
How can I control my phobia naturally? ›
10 ways to fight your fears
- Take time out. It's difficult to think clearly when you feel scared or anxious. ...
- Breathe through panic. ...
- Face your fears. ...
- Remember that anxiety isn't harmful. ...
- Challenge unhelpful thoughts. ...
- Don't try to be perfect. ...
- Visualise a happy place. ...
- Talk about it.
The symptoms of Panphobia are very similar to other specific phobias and will often include:
- Anger problems.
- Generalised Anxiety.
- Social anxiety.
- Control issues.
- Feelings of depression.
- Insomnia & sleeping problems.
- Low Self-Esteem.
- Low Self-Confidence.
The universal trigger for fear is the threat of harm, real or imagined. This threat can be for our physical, emotional or psychological well-being. While there are certain things that trigger fear in most of us, we can learn to become afraid of nearly anything.
What are 3 causes of fear? ›
Causes of Fear
Some common fear triggers include: Certain specific objects or situations (spiders, snakes, heights, flying, etc) Future events. Imagined events.
What fears are children born with? ›
Everyone is born with the two innate fears of falling and loud sounds. The rest are learned. Our surroundings – parents, siblings, friends, TV – teach us at a young age to be scared of things, like the dark or monsters. Experience shapes our fears as we get older.
What is the most common phobia for children? ›
Some common phobias in children include:
- animals.
- blood.
- the dark.
- enclosed spaces.
- flying.
- getting sick.
- having a parent, sibling, or pet get sick or hurt.
- heights.
