For some, dolls are nothing but nostalgic toys, but for others, they can be the source of their biggest nightmares. Their blank stares, frozen smiles and eerie lifelikeness have long made people uncomfortable and unsettled. In some cases, this discomfort goes deeper, manifesting as a full-blown phobia known as pediophobia — a fear of dolls.
'This consistent pairing of dolls with other creepy, scary stimuli may lead to experiencing fear or nervousness when confronted with a doll or an image of a doll,' explained Dr. Kate Wolitzky-Taylor, a psychologist and faculty member at UCLA's Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences.
