Nyctophobia 2

The Fear in Children and Adults

Nyctophobia is a fear suffered by both adults and children. It is most common among pediatric patients. Nyctophobic patients are frightened by thoughts of darkness. They assume a quicker response to darkness than do most people. For most adult patients, the fear has been with them since childhood. Adults who developed the phobia in childhood may suffer from any retrospective reference or mental-recall of past events in the dark. The lack of analytical and interpretive studies on nyctophobia allows only a limited understanding of the phobia. There is little known information about the pathological background and emotional aspects of nyctophobia. Television shows and movies are two of the known factors that cause children to develop a fear of darkness. Telling scary stories, especially while in the dark, is one other factor that may cause kids to develop the phobia.