# Spectrophobia

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrophobia
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{{Short description|Fear of mirrors}}
{{additional citations|date=April 2018}}

'''Spectrophobia''' (derived from [Latin](/source/Latin): ''spectrum'', n. specio, an appearance, form, image of a thing; an apparition, spectre) or '''catoptrophobia''' (from Greek κάτοπτρον ''kátoptron'', "mirror") is a kind of [specific phobia](/source/specific_phobia) involving an abnormal and persistent fear of [mirror](/source/mirror)s, and an anxiety about seeing one's own face reflected in them.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ferenczi |first1=Sandor |title=Further Contributions to the Theory and Technique of Psycho-Analysis |date=1994 |publisher=Karnac Books |isbn=9781855750869 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EN-eCP-fgO0C&q=%22spectrophobia+%22&pg=PA365 |access-date=28 August 2019 |language=en}}</ref> It is sometimes related to the fear of [ghosts](/source/ghosts) or the undead.{{cn|date=August 2019}}

This phobia is distinct from eisoptrophobia, which is the [fear](/source/Fear_processing_in_the_brain) of one's own reflection. Sufferers of spectrophobia can fear the breaking of a mirror bringing extreme bad luck.{{cn|date=August 2019}} They can fear the thought of something frightening jumping out of the mirror, or seeing something disturbing inside of it next to their own reflection when looking directly at it.{{cn|date=August 2019}} Others fear that it is a link to the preternatural world or a gateway into another world, and may fear being pulled into the mirror by some preternatural force.{{cn|date=August 2019}} Some also fear their own reflection in the darkness, as it can appear distorted in strange ways or their reflection may frighten them.{{cn|date=August 2019}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

Category:Phobias
Category:Mirrors

{{mental-disorder-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Spectrophobia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrophobia) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrophobia?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.