Who's Afraid of Butterflies? Our Fears and Phobias named and explained

by Stephen Juan

Why are we afraid of things that go bump in the night?Do you know someone who freaks out at the sight of a puppet (Pupaphobia)? Can't handle being bathed in moonlight (Lunaphobia)? Or is petrified of twins (Biniphobia)? For everything that exists, there is someone, somewhere, who is deathly afraid of it.In Who's Afraid of Butterflies?, well-known popular scientist Dr Stephen Juan explores the fascinating world of our deepest fears, from A (Abandonment) right through to Z (Zombies). Dr Juan explains how our phobias begin, why they endure, and the latest ways to overcome them - he even takes a look at the phobias of the famous (just who is afraid of butterflies?). So if you have ever been curious about phobias, or just too scared to investigate, then help is at hand - pick up this book and retreat to a safe place to figure it all out!

400 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2011

Reviews

[Tara Blais Davison · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 good list of phobias but missing some rather popular options such as:
* fear of heights (specifically falling from heights)
* fear of heartbreak
* fear of styrofoam
* fear of holes
* fear of disappointment
* fear of poverty
* fear of success
* fear of facial hair
Etc.

[Al Bità · Rating 3 out of 5]

This rather comprehensive populist listing in various headings of the types of phobias which can be identified in modern society is both fun and frightening in equal proportions. The list of phobias has gradually increased over the years to cover just about anything — and most of the increase had been within the last century or so… One suspects that this could very well be the result of the increase in fad-type books on health and well-being; give it a 'name' and one will find someone who has that particular 'phobia'. That's the frightening bit. I put the word 'phobia' in quotes here, because I also suspect that many of these are simply aversions, dislikes, fears, maybe allergies, whatever, and in most cases they remain that way without too much concern required. For me, the use of the word 'phobia' should be restricted to that mental condition whereby the particular fear is of such intensity that it seriously and adversely affects the sufferer's lifestyle and well-being.

This misuse of 'phobias' is, in my opinion, most obvious when applied to those claimed by the 'famous' — usually celebrities who expect certain treatment as a result of their specific 'fears', etc. The book also provides us with a list of currently popular or well known personalities with their alleged or reported 'phobias'. Presumably this might induce fans of a particular celebrity to 'take on' the phobias of their chosen celebrity… and whether this might be a good or bad thing is a moot point. What does it mean, however, to read that Alexander the Great had a fear of cats (felinophobia)? It is amusing, on the other hand, to find that Woody Allen tops the list for having the most phobias: nineteen in all!

The fun side comes in some of the more clever 'phobias': fear of passwords, for instance, is identified as friendorphobia. A fear of palindromes is the delightfully palindromic aibohphobia. And for the truly outrageous, one of the words for the fear of long words is hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia!

The book's structure is mostly taken up with listings of phobias under their English names, occasionally including brief case studies and comments (a listing under the names of the different phobias as such is provided in the final chapter). There are also chapters devoted to: a brief history of phobias; some treatments; a discussion of Childhood phobias; and, as mentioned above, a listing of the phobias of the Famous.