Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsDiagnosisCausesTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Causes
Treatment
Coping
Automatonophobia is the fear of automatons, wax figures, humanoid robots, audio-animatronics, or other figures designed to represent humans. Automatons are considered a hallmark of new technology and are proudly displayed in many types of locations, ranging from museums and theme parks to carnivals.
Automatonophobia is aspecific phobia, which is an irrational fear of something that actually isn’t dangerous.While it is relatively common to feel nervous around human-like figures (a phenomenon calledthe uncanny valley),a phobia disrupts a person’s life. Someone with a phobia develops maladaptive coping mechanisms in order to avoid the object of their fear.
This article covers what automatonophobia is, and what its causes, symptoms, and complications are. You’ll learn how doctors or mental health professionals diagnose this phobia, as well as the most common treatment methods for phobias.
Symptoms of Automatonophobia
This fear can manifest in many ways. Some people are afraid only of wax figures, others of dolls. Some are unable to visit theme parks or other attractions which use moving humanoid figures called audio-animatronics in their displays.
If you suffer from automatonophobia, you experience extreme anxiety when you come into contact with or even have thoughts about the object of your fear.
Diagnosis of Automatonophobia
According to the fifth edition of the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM-5), healthcare providers should use these criteria to determine whether someone has a diagnosable phobia:
A doctor may also evaluate whether you have any co-existing mental health conditions that are contributing to your phobia. Specific phobias often occur alongside other anxiety disorders or mood disorders.
Causes of Automatonophobia
Phobias can have a variety of causes including:
In general, it’s common for people to feel uncomfortable in the presence of human replicas. While many figures, mannequins, or robots resemble humans, we inherently have the awareness that they are not real, which often feels chilling or unsettling.
Automatonophobia is often thought to be related tomaskaphobia, which is the fear of masks.Pediophobia, or the fear of dolls, is also related to automatonophobia.
How a fear develops into a phobia isn’t always clear. However, the reasons above (trauma, genetics, and conditioning) may make a person more at risk for developing a specific phobia. In addition, you may be at a higher risk of developing a phobia if you also have a mental health condition such as ananxiety disorderor amood disorder.
Factors That Cause Certain Phobias to Develop
Role in Popular Culture
Automatonophobia has been exploited in numerous books, television shows, and films. Perhaps the best-known example is the original Vincent Price version ofHouse of Wax. Originally shown in 3D to heighten the effect, the 1953 movie focuses on a wax sculptor who seeks revenge.
Treatment for Automatonophobia
Automatonophobia is treatable. The exact course that treatment takes will depend on your specific symptoms, their severity, and the impact that the phobia has on your life.
Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy(CBT) is a common form oftherapyused for conditions like anxiety anddepression. It can help you learn to replace negative thoughts about automatons with more rational messages.A therapist may teach yourelaxation exercisesto use when anxiety flares as a result of your phobia.
You may also trysystematic desensitization, in which you are gradually exposed to the object of your fear under the supervision of a therapist.
Some people with phobias findhypnotherapyuseful as well.Usually, you work with a hypnotherapist to create suggestions or goals, such as “I feel at ease when I encounter a mannequin at the mall; I understand it can’t hurt me.” Then, the therapist communicates and repeats these suggestions to you while you are in a meditative state.
The idea of hypnotherapy is that your subconscious mind absorbs the messages you want yourself to embody, so that you can overcome your anxiety response to the object of your fear.
When seeking out therapy for automatonophobia or any phobia, be sure to choose a therapist you trust. It’s OK to meet with a few different therapists until you find someone you feel comfortable with.
You can even ask a therapist to have a preliminary phone call in which you ask them about what to expect during a session so you feel more comfortable going in.
What Is Monophobia?
Medication
Sometimes, a doctor will recommend a medication for you to take while you attend therapy. Some medications may help reduce your fear and make it feel more manageable as you learn long-term ways to cope.
Common medications prescribed to those with specific phobias includeantidepressantslikeselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs). Examples of SSRIs includeProzac(fluoxetine) orZoloft(sertraline). Or, a doctor may recommend aselective serotonin-norepinephrine inhibitor(SNRI) such asEffexor(venlafaxine).
Other medications prescribed for phobias includetricyclic antidepressants(TCAs) such as Tofranil (imipramine) or Anafranil (clomipramine) oranti-anxiety medicationssuch as Klonopin (clonazepam) orXanax(alprazolam).
It’s important to note, however, thatbenzodiazepinessuch as Xanax have a high potential for misuse andaddiction. They are meant only for short-term use and a person should be under a doctor’s supervision while taking Xanax.
Coping With Automatonophobia
There are ways you can practice on your own to cope with the day-to-day stress you experience due to a phobia. You can manage your anxiety with methods such as:
How Does Exposure Therapy Work?
Keep in Mind
Though automatonophobia can pose challenges to your everyday life and functioning, remember that you aren’t alone. There are resources, like therapy and medication, as well as coping mechanisms you can use to help reduce your anxiety.
Reach out to a doctor or mental health professional who can advise you on the next steps for treating your phobia.
List of Phobias: Common Phobias From A to Z
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Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Laura Harold
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