Phunny Phobias
If you met someone who was afraid of paper or wax statues, wouldn't you tell them to stop being so ridiculous and get over it? Every Monday, Null editor Hayley hand-picks another bizarre phobia and tries to work out whether it's real or rubbish.
This week:
Philematophobia: fear of kissing
What's so scary about it?
Well that all depends on who you're kissing. But it seems some people find the idea of lips on lips completely intolerable, while others are afraid of having their tongues bitten off. Some are scared about picking up bacteria from someone else's filthy cakehole.
What do the scientists say about it?
Not a lot. Despite finding its way all over the web, this condition hasn't been cited by a single academic paper. I did come across one psychiatrist's comments, however, who seemed to suggest that treatment centred on getting the patient to understand how ridiculous they were being.
Hayley says:
"Nobody gets through their adolescence without worrying just a teeny tiny bit about snogging, but I'm not sure it ever amounts to a full blown phobia. At the risk of being set upon by some never-been-kissed uglies... Rubbish."
So far: Real 1 Rubbish 2
Find phunny phobias from other weeks here.
Null's other regular features (more coming soon):
Thursday: Peculiar Periodicals
Friday: World in Brief
Image: Igor Tomic
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