Erythrophobia

Erythrophobia
: An abnormal and persistent fear of blushing. Sufferers of erythrophobia experience undue anxiety even though they realize their fear is irrational. Their anxiety results from worry about being the focus of attention and the subject of embarrassment. Attempts to suppress blushing often have the opposite effect. Sufferers of erythrophobia tend to avoid social gatherings and workplace projects that require them to interact with, or speak before, groups of co-workers. "Erythrophobia" also can refer to fear of the color red because of what it may symbolize, such as blood. The terms "redcoat" (British soldier in the American Revolution) and "red" (synonym for "communist") gave Americans valid reasons to fear red. Other terms with "red" that have a negative connotation include "redeye" (an overnight air flight), "caught red-handed" (caught with evidence of guilt) "red-herring" (a deceptive tactic), "red ink" (a financial loss) and "seeing red" (angry). "Erythrophobia" is derived from the Greek "erythros" (red) and "phobos" (fear). "Erythros" also gives us the English words "erythema" (inflammation of the skin that causes reddening) and "erythrocyte" (a red blood cell).

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eryth·ro·pho·bia (ə-rith″ro-foґbe-ə) [erythro- + -phobia] 1. irrational fear of the color red, often accompanied by fear of blood (hematophobia). 2. fear of blushing; a distressing tendency to blush frequently.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • erythrophobia — /i rith reuh foh bee euh/, n. Psychiatry. 1. an abnormal fear of the color red. 2. extreme fear of blushing. [1890 95; < NL; see ERYTHRO , PHOBIA] * * * …   Universalium

  • erythrophobia — noun An abnormal and persistent fear of blushing …   Wiktionary

  • erythrophobia — fear of red lights or of blushing Phobias …   Phrontistery dictionary

  • erythrophobia — eryth·ro·pho·bia …   English syllables

  • erythrophobia — A fear of blushing …   Grandiloquent dictionary

  • erythrophobia — /əˌrɪθroʊˈfoʊbiə/ (say uh.rithroh fohbeeuh) noun Psychology 1. morbid fear of blushing. 2. morbid aversion to red. –erythrophobic, adjective, noun …  

  • erythrophobia — ˈfōbēə noun Etymology: New Latin, from erythr + phobia 1. : morbid avoidance of the color red 2. : fear of blushing * * * /i rith reuh foh bee euh/, n. Psychiatry. 1. an abnormal fear of the color red. 2. extreme fear of blushing …   Useful english dictionary

  • эритрофобия — (erythrophobia; эритро + фобия) навязчивый страх боязнь красного цвета …   Большой медицинский словарь

  • Эритрофоби́я — (erythrophobia; Эритро + Фобия) навязчивый страх боязнь красного цвета …   Медицинская энциклопедия

  • Fear of blushing — An abnormal and persistent fear of blushing. Sufferers of this fear experience undue anxiety even though they realize their fear is irrational. Their anxiety results from worry about being the focus of attention and the subject of embarrassment.… …   Medical dictionary

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