Pediophobia

When I was younger I used to be afraid of my own barbie dolls when I was alone. I would have to turn their faces around at night fearing the mind games my brain would play - barbie stares right into your SOUL lol. My best friend had victorian dolls that she'd have to turn around as well, as the traffic lights reflect their eyes, seeming to glow. I still have my toddler size doll that's sitting somewhere else, the eyes close and open depending how she is positioned. She's more than 10 years old and sometimes I get the creeps just looking at her.
When I get a bjd I will prob still turn her around at night.

But I do have pupaphobia - puppets. I just hate how they move and appear and disappear. Their eyes are just really scary I can't stand it! It's kind of embarrassing actually.

 

As a child my few dolls were locked up at night so they wouldn't kill me in my sleep. Needless to say, I didn't own many.

Nowadays I find most dolls just creepy, but have mostly gotten over the fear of death by dolls. That's not to say that there aren't dolls out there that would be locked up if they were brought into my house.

I don't know why few, if any, ABJDs strike me this way. It's odd, even the scary sculpts that are dripping with blood and gore don't really bother me in this way, but I find myself creeped out if an American Girl doll is looking at me.

 

Reading through this thread, I was very surprised at how many people that own BJD's are actually afraid of dolls! How interesting!
I really do not understand the fear, I always liked my dollies when I was a kid, even the porcelain ones, and I actually own a couple of the antique bisque bjd's.
I did used to wonder about them coming to life and all, but I figured they would be my friends if that happened, otherwise why would people keep making dolls?

 

The fear of dolls is called Pediophobia, it is also used to refer to a fear of small children. What do you think lays behind this fear?

Is it just the result of horror movies and before that numerous horror tales of dolls? Is there something deeper to it?

I. The Uncanny Valley.
I think this is the essential element behind Pediophobia. Humans are highly visual and one of the earliest
and most familiar and recognizable image to humans is that of other humans--particularly the face. Even small degrees of "off-ness" to human features are recognizable to most people (if only unconsciously). It is possible that some people are extra-sensitive to the human face/form and seeing a doll or anything that is similar--but is NOT a true human/face, can upset something that may be on an instinctual level--or may just be cultural or personal.


II. Instinctual:
A. Maternal feelings. Can be aroused by seeing human features. Particularly infantile features. For some this feeling is absent or minimal. Others can extend these feelings towards non-human features-- animals, or beyond. Dolls can easily fall into these categories.
B. Fear of the Other. Basic survival can rely on recognizing your own (mother), and separating that from what is different. Xenophobia is probably based on survival instincts. But for it to overcome sense and reason means that it is out of balance. But it's probably something definitely at work at the heart of the feelings of distaste and fear of the Uncanny Valley.
C. Recognition and familiarity of the human form. Conversely, recognition of one's own in a broad sense applies to a feeling of community and safety. Groups are stronger and not all will be as similar/familiar as one's mother or immediate family. Most people are so sensitive to be freaked out by the human-like.

III. Cultural-- Environment and culture can affect attitudes toward the Uncanny Valley.
A. Death. -- People will feel the effects of the Uncanny Valley because humans ought to be alive and moving. An inert object in human form be associated with death. But others might see it as sleeping. The creepiness factor is raised if the cultural attitude toward Death is focused on Fear/Taboo/Otherness/Wrongness, however. Some cultures are not so fearful of Death, so this would be less of a factor in those situations.
B. Religion. -- Some beliefs will fear the Other/Unknown. (Some say anything imaginary, not clearly "normal" human, is the work of the Devil. Others have spiritual beliefs that give a sort of soul or life to figures or dolls and an acceptance of non-standard human beings).
C. Popular culture: Cons: Films, Stories. Pro: Children's Toy, Babies, Princesses, Holidays. -- Like beliefs... this is environmental and will reinforce instincts and/or personality and/or experience to make someone fearful or more accepting.

IV. Personal: Individuals all vary--in degree types of instinctual feelings. In personality traits that can affect attitudes and behaviour, and in environment, culture and personal experience...
A. Attitude Towards Death. --drawing on all of the above, will affect the impact of the Uncanny Valley.
B. Acceptance of the Other/Unknown. -- same. This should tip an individual toward having less of a problem with Pediophobia, but various factors of personality, environment and experience may overcome this openness (or less sensitivity)
C. Attraction of the Other/Unknown. --same as above, but it's less likely there will be Pediophobia in a person with this aspect. They seem to be able to overcome instinct and fear... and perhaps even sensible reason, in the extreme cases!

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Personally--
The Uncanny Valley is something that has never affected me in the least.
I don't expect dolls to be alive. They do not freak me out at all. I think of dolls as dolls only. I recognize them as representations of the human form and I like them for that reason.
Instinctual feelings aren't that strong for me... neither maternal nor xenophobia.
Culturally, I'm not familiar with death, but reason tells me it's part of the human condition and not something to be feared. I do fear it, but that fear doesn't spread beyond actual human death. I don't associate it with things or other feelings. In fact, I tend to be drawn towards it so that understand may help neutralize my fears. So I won't be associating anything like this with dolls, or make it a factor in how I react to the Uncanny Valley. I'm also not very religious, believe that horror stories are just stories, etc.
Personality wise, I'm already interested an liking the human form and any and all variations. I don't view these things are fearful or bad or uncanny... I like fantasy. I don't believe it can affect me (it is just fantasy), I think it's fun and something to indulge in. I've never had a bad experience with dolls. I have always liked dolls. I am an artist and have always liked drawing the human figure. I have always liked fantasy and the imagination, so things being a little off from standard are things that intrigue me. So, it's basically my personality, and I am not too influenced by other factors. Babies and children are fine with me, although I'm not that maternal.

My sister-- who should have similarities with me (environmental, at least), does not like dolls. This is a difference that is not cultural, either. Must be due to personal things... Instinct and/or personality. She isn't into fantasy (the Other), either.

My nephew-- is freaked out by dolls. Might be partially nuture, since he's been raised by my sister and brother-in-law (not into dolls or figurative things, either), and might be Nature (Personality/genetics, etc.). He just basically is sensitive to the Uncanny Valley. Also might be influenced by culture (films/horror).

 

I found the mummified Italian girl fascinating as well. I think it ties in with my keen interest in horror, gore, and scary things. It's the excitement of creeping myself out. I guess I'm an adrenaline junkie. ^_^

Some pages back, there were some collectors who didn't care for the sleepy eye sculpts for fear of them opening up during the middle of the night? Same here! It's not so much the fear of the doll suddenly opening their eyes, but the fact that I can't see where their eyes glancing in the first place (even though I'm the one who positioned them).

 

Whew dolls scare me and don't scare me at the same time. Ther are times where I'm like "I wish you were alive" and other moments where I am freaking out about the way they're staring at me. Smaller dolls I have no problem with, like puki sized and stuff but once you get into msd height and the more real they look the more I freak out during certain moments. Stuffed dolls and animals no problem at all. But porcelein dolls and I'm dead.

But my favorite doll size is SD. The larger the better I tell myself ^^' I guess the only reason I fear is because I feel like they might think I mistreat them because of my weird quirks and they'll hate me if something possesses them... I think I dream too much

 

I am afraid of lots of dolls actually, but not my BJDs. I love them alot, and they calm me down. I treat them really well too, spoiling and sewing for all of them. I have a feeling if my babies came to life in the middle of the night they would climb out of thier bed and come cuddle with me xD

 

I just watched that trailer. In the beginning of it I was going wtf, but at the end I actually found it quite comedic.

I think we have to remember that a phobia is a strong fear of something, not just finding something "creepy" or "ugly".
I have always loved dolls, some styles more than others. I find the old ones quite charming but one thing which I have never liked are the old porcelain teeths. But thats me not liking teeth so much.

 

Anything too human-like but we know it isn't human, can make people uncomfortable. I know Robert the doll really bothers me and I can't watch, read, or even mention the name without getting the chills. Toy Story (and Rozen Maiden) always made me comfortable thinking my dolls could be alive. Then there were things like Chucky and Robert, to make me uncomfortable. I'm wondering if it mainly has to do with the paranormal that makes people (and probably myself) scared.
As for the children aspect, children can be extremely frightening in Horror Movies. It must be that we expect innocence and charm from them. They are little, and sometimes they don't know any better. We know kids like to play tricks or giggle, but when we're vunerable, alone, and we hear giggling from a child and we can't discover the source, that is freaky. Its the unknown, and vurnerableness we fear. We can also thank the media for bringing us movies with creepy ghost children, devilish and possessed children, and well... Those stupid "unrealistic" children that don't listen and do bad things. I think it also stems from your mind, as well. Psychologically we probably think of the worst case-scenario when we are frightened and don't know whats going on.

*Note: I feel like I have more to say about this, However I don't know if this is making sense. It made sense in my head. I've read/seen alot of paranormal things that I'm trying to relate back to this. This is from what I've heard or read about.

 

Concerning the dolls that open/close their eyes depending on position. I had one as a kid and whilst I played with it quite alot initially, slowly something about them started to creep me out. I remember eventually digging her eyes out with my fingers at about age 4 cause her eyes really got to me. Needless to say, she became even more scary and I never dared to look at her again so she went to the trash.

I got a barbie eventually but didn't find her scary at all. Now I absolutely love BJDs.

I'm still alittle afraid of the dolls that have moving eyes, but what I have a real fear of now are mannequins! OMG, I hate walking close to them in shopping centres. If I notice that one is next to or behind me I jump and start to panic for no reason and have to move away or at least face them head on and assure myself its just a stationary plastic figure.

 

I'm not scared of all types of dolls, but the very large porcelain dolls that look like little girls... Those scare me. I also don't like the regular "baby dolls" that Walmart and Target, etc sell. Especially the ones that talk or move. It's mostly the eyes that freak me out! If they had less-realistic looking eyes, then I'd probably feel okay around them. But because they do, I always think about them jumping off of the shelf and walking around. I think my fear was birthed from watching Chucky at a young age.

 

I've been interested in BJDs for the past year now, and recently I've been talking to my mother about them. I knew she would object to the price, and she did, but recently we've had a heart to heart and I have found something out--She doesn't like dolls. She owns a Cabbage Patch doll--its high off the ground and always in her line of sight; I used to collect Barbies when I was younger--she's locked them into a storage container deep in her closet. I've shown her some pictures, so she knows what they look like, but she insists that should I get one, I'd have to build it a house in the yard because she doesn't want "Chuckies in her house".

Is there some way--ANY way, really--for me to change her mind? Any suggestions? Has this happened to anyone before? Will I be doomed to a BJDless life?

Any response would be lovely!
And feel free to move if in the wrong spot!

 

lol It's sorta funny cuz I have an ACTUAL Chucky doll (a Bride of Chucky one so he's got scars and stitches everywhere) that my friend got me a few years back. He holds a little plastic knife and I used to keep him next to my bed (He's probably about 2 feet tall) and I'd have to put him in the closet or something when some of my friends came over cuz they'd take my bed and he'd creep em out.

But, yeah, I wouldn't go as far to say you'll have a BJDless life, but if your mom's that freaked out by dolls then maybe you'll have to put it on hold til you move out. Or maybe if you keep it in your closet when you're not doing anything with it that would be an acceptable compromise? I like having mine out where I can see him, but no one in my house is afraid of dolls. If they were I think I'd make the compromise. Or tell her it'll be in your room and she'll never have to see it and it'll only leave your room when she's not home? I'm sure she wouldn't really make you keep something so expensive out in the yard.

 

I have said in a previous post that the Chucky doll comments always bother me. Anyway, Toratsubasa, just enjoy your hobby and your mom will come around. Just be happy around your dolls and your mom will start associating them with fun and will warm up to them I'm sure. Like Okami-chan03 says, maybe you can tell your mom that you will have one or two dolls out in your room until she gets used to them and she doesn't have to go into your room. I'm sure she wouldn't really expect you to keep them out in the yard, would she? One idea might be to add a couple shelves in your closet where your dolls can sit. when you are in your room, you can have your closet door open and look at or play with them and when you are done, they can sit nicely on their shelf and you just need to close the door and that way if your mom needs to come in she won't see anything. Hope that helps.

 

If she definitely don't like them then it's pretty hard to convince your mom to like the dolls at least a bit..It's hard to convince someone to like something if he/she is afraid of it, especially in your case that your mom think of these dolls as "Chucky". But, I guess you could try telling her that you'll put the doll in a place that she'll never see it or even have a small glimpse of it? Or if she disapproves, then your best options are: 1. go with her option, 2. wait until you move out, or 3. have a close friend to hold onto your doll (it can be extremely inconvenience, since you won't be able to see your doll everyday..very limited).

 

My suggestion is she see a trained cognitive therapist (if she hasn't already). Phobias, if left untreated, have the potential to hurt a person's ability to live a full life. I don't think you can change her mind yourself, though; you'll need to persuade her to seek counseling of some kind, because it's very clear she has a phobia of dolls, and it's interfering with you doing what you want to do. You can always calmly approach her at a time where she's at her most relaxed, and say that you think that she should see someone about her phobia, because you really want a doll, and her fear is causing you distress, also.

I can't guarantee that she'll agree, or take you seriously, but you've planted the seed into her mind, and at least you gave it a shot. Chances are she knows her fear is irrational, and it probably bothers her (no one likes to be afraid of anything), but sometimes, it's hard to admit to other people that you're afraid of certain things.

If your mom eventually allows you to get a doll, keep it away from your mom. Don't play jokes on her with it, or leave it where she might find it. Just because you and her both know the fear is irrational, it doesn't give you permission to have your doll where your mom can see it. Exposure therapy, from what I've learned, tends to be the last step of the phobia treatment process - and usually the hardest because the thing you've feared for so long is now confronting you. So, trying to acclimate her to your doll is probably not a good idea unless she decides she wants to see it. People with phobias should make the first step if they want to confront the thing they most feared.

 

I'm more interested in Obsessions with dolls. ^-^ I watched a documentary about a man who could not interact well with humans, he was paranoid and such, But her had these really beautiful dolls that are dressed up as army men and OH their faces were so amazing! He brought them along every where he went (in a wagon ^-^)

 

The only doll I ever felt really creeped out by was a 1980's reproduction Patti Playpal. My granny found her in the woods or something and painted her face with acrylic paints and sealed it with glossy *ack!* sealer. It wore a bright fuschia full-length dress and a human hair Gibson Girl wig. At Christmas my sister and I had to sleep in the same room as that doll and I swear she stared at us the entire time with those filmed-over lifeless-but-knowledgable blue eyes.

I've never once been afraid of my ABJDs. If they were to come to life (and have the personalities that I imagine them to have) I would be totally thrilled! I have a strong aversion to most humans that borders on disgust for very young humans and this causes me lots of problems in social interaction. I only have maternal instincts for my cats (big time), my dolls, and my husband (strangely enough). I wonder where that places me psychologically? Especially since I am a well-educated person and studying for my Master's degree in a prestigious scientific field. I suppose I just live in my own little world with my dolls and cats.

Perhaps the manipulation and customization of the dolls feeds into our need to have more control in life and to in essence "play god" on a small scale. *deep, yo*

I suppose some of the really gory and broken dolls upset me a bit because I feel bad for them and want to take away their pain. Real Creepy and Scary for me is anything with a monkey face. Real monkeys in pictures, on tv, or even cartoon monkeys just totally freak me out! You'll never see a monkey doll in my collection, watching me with its eyes full of hate and higher thought, wanting nothing more than to bite me to death. Nope. Monkey dolls. Now that's creepy.

 

Interesting. I have a phobia of death but I've never really seriously been affected by the uncanny valley. I guess I don't automatically associate "looks human but isn't" with "dead person".

tora - I don't think your mom would seriously want to leave expensive items sitting out in the yard, dolls or not. Keeping them in your room/closet and in their boxes when you're not playing with them will probably be okay. And do you know what it is about dolls that she doesn't like? That would probably help you figure out the best way to make her comfortable with having them in the house.

 

Reading the secong post, I'm really disturbed be the "death child" thing. I think I can sympathize with the thought when talking about other dolls like a Baby Born (if anyone know that doll) but I can't see it in ABJDs. I really think they're much more lively and I guess I really love the fact that they look so much like perfect real humans (obsessed with beauty much?).
But I guess that can also be the reason why many may fear them. Cause they look so much like real people but aren't. Like... a person with something really off? You know how it feels a little offensive (not sure if the right word) sometimes watching documentaries about children/people with a really rare handicap, maybe something's really wrong with their body or features. You feel a little afraid or disturbed looking at it cause it just seems so wrong and like nothing you've ever seen before. Note, I'm not trying to offend or say bad things about those special people at all. Of course it's not their fault.
But.. I think it could have something to do with that? When non-BJD people look at the dolls, their brains might watch them at humans who just looks really wrong because of their size and become scared?
Of course I also think there're a lot of those who are afraid because of horror movies/stories involving dolls.
I actually dislike being in the same room with a doll also, because I feel they stare at me in a creepy way. I hate walking through a room and suddenly find one sitting there staring at me. Okay.. maybe I'd be afraid too in such a situation with a BJD. Haha. I also hate looking at dolls' pictures cause I'm afraid they might come to life. But I love ABJDs, I don't know why.
Maybe because I've met a lot who has such cute goofy personalities that I just can't be afraid of them ^^