Ornithophobia
Fear of Birds
Causes
Ornithophobia often stems from traumatic experiences with birds in childhood. Birds often aggressively defend their young or their food, and this leads to attacking humans.
Folklore
Birds often symbolize death or bad luck in folklore. Some psychologists have theorized that this may lead to ornithophobia.
Symptoms
When encountering birds, may experience crying, shaking, or freezing in place. Sufferers may even flee from anticipated bird encounters.
Treatments
Relaxation techniques or behavior replacement therapy can help. Gradual exposure to birds (exposure therapy) can also be beneficial.
Celebrity Sufferers
Scarlett Johansson (an actor), has always been afraid of birds. She had to deal with peacocks in the popular movie “We Bought a Zoo.” Niall Horan, one of the singers in One Direction, was attacked by pigeon as a child and now is afraid of all birds, specifically pigeons.
Works Consulted
- Fritscher, Lisa. "Ornithophobia." About Health. About.com, 10 Dec. 2014. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://phobias.about.com/od/phobiaslist/a/ornithophobia.htm>.
- "One Direction's Niall Horan Reveals His Fear of Birds (The Feathered Kind)." Huffpost Celebrity UK. AOL (UK), 30 Mar. 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/03/30/ one-direction-niall-horan-pigeon_n_1390648.html>.
- "Ornithophobia." MedicineNet. MedicineNet, 14 June 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=11720>.
- A seagull attacks a woman in the street in Cornwall where postmen have become too scared to deliver letters. SWNS.com. SWNS, 1 July 2013. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://swns.com/wp-content/uploads/ SWNS_AGGRESSIVE_SEAGULLS_02-e1372696735406.jpg>.
- "Top 10 Strangest Celebrity Phobias." Stylist.co.uk. Stylist, 2014. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://www.stylist.co.uk/people/top-10-celebrity-phobias>.