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Apple’s iPhone 11 Pro triggering trypophobic fear of holes: The design flaw that sparked controversy



Trypophobia is an aversion to the sight of irregular patterns or clusters of small holes or bumps.[3][4] It is not officially recognized as a mental disorder, but may be diagnosed as a specific phobia if excessive fear and distress occur.[1][3] Most affected people experience mainly disgust when they see trypophobic imagery.[3] A minority of people experience the same level of fear and disgust, and a few express only disgust or fear.[3]




Apple’s iPhone 11 Pro triggering trypophobic fear of holes




Whether trypophobia can be accurately described as a specific phobia might depend on whether the person mainly responds with fear or with disgust. Because phobias involve fear, a response to trypophobic imagery that is based mostly or solely on disgust renders its status as a specific phobia questionable.[3] In one study, most of the participants with trypophobia met the DSM-5 criteria for a specific phobia, even though they experienced disgust instead of fear when shown imagery of clusters of holes; however, they did not meet the distress or impairment criterion.[3]


Trypophobia often presents with an autonomic nervous system response.[3] Shapes that elicit a trypophobic reaction include clustered holes in innocuous contexts, such as fruit and bubbles, and in contexts associated with danger, such as holes made by insects and holes in wounds and diseased tissue such as those caused by mango flies in animals, especially dogs. Upon seeing these shapes, some people said they shuddered, felt their skin crawl, experienced panic attacks, sweated, palpitated, or felt nauseated or itchy.[1][7] Other reported symptoms include goose bumps, body shakes, feeling uncomfortable, and visual discomfort such as eyestrain, distortions, or illusions.[3][8]


The understanding of trypophobia is limited.[3] Several possible causes have been proposed.[3] Geoff Cole and Arnold Wilkins believe the reaction is an "unconscious reflex reaction" based on a biological revulsion, rather than a learned cultural fear.[7] Imagery of various venomous animals (for example, certain types of snakes, insects, and spiders) have visual characteristics similar to trypophobic imagery. Furthermore, other animals such as the frog Pipa pipa have been known to be a trypophobia trigger. Because of this, it is hypothesized that trypophobia has an evolutionary basis meant to alert humans of dangerous organisms.[1][9][10] Can et al., however, believe the connection between trypophobia and evolution as a result of a threat from deadly creatures to be weak and that, if a connection does exist, it manifests later in life rather than in childhood.[3][11]


Martínez-Aguayo et al. described trypophobia as usually involving "an intense and disproportionate fear towards holes, repetitive patterns, protrusions, etc., and, in general, images that present high-contrast energy at low and midrange spatial frequencies."[3] Cole and Wilkins also stated the imagery has high spatial frequency with greater energy at midrange.[1][3] Whether together or separate, it appears that low and midrange spatial frequencies are necessary for inducing trypophobic reactions. Based on the imagery's visual cues, An Trong Dinh Le, Cole, and Wilkins developed a symptom questionnaire that they believe can be used to identify trypophobia.[3]


Because trypophobia is not well known to the general public, many people with the condition do not know the name for it and believe that they are alone in their trypophobic reactions and thoughts until they find an online community to share them with.[13] This has led to an increase in trypophobic images on social media; in some cases, people seek to intentionally induce trypophobia in those who have it by showing them trypophobic images, with the most trypophobic-inducing images being holes and clusters (especially the lotus seedhead) photoshopped onto human skin.[13] Cole and Wilkins also stated that the level of disgust with trypophobia increases if the holes are on human skin.[13] Writing in Popular Science, Jennifer Abbasi argues that emotional contagion within such social media groups may be responsible for some of the aversive reactions to such images.[6]


Trypophobia is the fear of closely placed holes or bumps, such as a honeycomb. People who suffer from trypophobia feel extremely uncomfortable at the sight of objects which have holes placed closed to each other.


For those unaware, trypophobia is an intense reaction to small clusters of holes that are bunched closely together. Most people who are afflicted by trypophobia are usually aware of their fear and undergo reactions that range from anxiety to repulsion. A large portion of reactions are being shared on Twitter have fueled an aversion to the new iPhone (TRIGGER WARNING: do not click on the link if you're trypophobic!).


Trypophobia, despite its irrationality, is a fairly common phobia that may have biological origins to back it up. The phobia triggers a primal fear in observers who unconsciously associate these holey items or images with danger. (again, click at your own discretion!) This makes sense once people realize that many dangerous and venomous creatures in the wild also possess these triggering patterns. Some harmless objects with triggering patterns include lotus pods and honeycombs found in beehives.


For the unversed, the phones are equipped with an additional lens and all three camera lenses have been placed close to each other. Trypophobia is the fear of holes or irregular clusters, and small patterns placed close together.


Serious instances of the phobia are not recognised as a mental disorder as yet, but a study by the National Center for Biotechnology in the US performed a study on the case of a 12-year-old girl who found ingrained feelings of fear, panic and digust when faced with trypophobic imagery.


This week, Apple unveiled their latest line of products, including a redesigned iPhone. The top of the line versions, the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max, are perfect for photographers since they boast three camera lenses, but while the devices might be appealing to shutterbugs, they are anything but for people with a specific phobia that the phone is setting off. Anyone who suffers from trypophobia, an intense fear of clusters of circles, bumps or holes, is having a lot of difficulty looking at the back of the new phones. Many of them are sharing their feelings on social media, with some really wanting to buy the iPhone 11 but can't because of how mirror selfies will trigger their fear.


The simplest definition of Trypophobia would be fear of holes. People who are trypophobic tend to fear a cluster of holes, patterns or bumps. Basically, patterns that are clustered closely trigger the symptoms of trypophobia.


Which kind of holes trigger fear or disgust in people, suffering from trypophobia differs. Objects that cause it could be Natural objects, like corals, or beehives, as well as synthetic things, like bursting bubbles, or clothes with dots. Cleaning sponges or aerated chocolate could also cause disgust, and as the iPhone 11 had shown, also technical objects could be a trigger. If trypophobia would be defined as a mental disease, it would be an anxiety disorder or a phobia. Do you already now how much fear there is in your mind?


Caroline already did a lot of research to find out, where her fear of small holes comes from. Although the phenomenon is not completely understood, there are some studies about it. Scientists of the University of Essex (UK) found the following: Patterns, that trigger anxiety symptoms are like those on different toxic animals. Therefore, trypophobia could have an evolutionary cause. To say it short: Specific patterns suggest danger and cause an escape reflex.


A study of the University of Kent had another theory. It assumes that people are afraid of a collection of small holes because they remind them of some diseases. Because some diseases, like measles, or pox show similar patterns on the skin surface. That is why affected people unconscious could be afraid of those illnesses. Did you already know the difference between fear and anxiety disorder?


If someone is restricted in daily life because of the fear of small holes, it would be a good idea to get help from a psychologist or therapist. The therapy method that helps very well, for example, is behavioural therapy. In this therapy method, an expert helps you to confront yourself to the triggering stimulus more and more. In the case of trypophobia is objects with holes or pictures from it. Relaxation techniques also help. You can learn them by yourself, or within a therapy. Furthermore, you could try to actively confront yourself with your fear. Here you can read, how this is possible.


The fear of holes might sound funny to outsiders, but for affected people, it is a serious thing. Although there is no medical diagnose yet: If you do not feel well in your daily life anymore, get yourself support. Each person has different things that cause negative emotions and for each problem, there is a solution.


Trypohobia is defined as an aversion to the sight of irregular clusters of holes or bumps, as in the lotus seed pod, or the nests in tree trunks created by certain insects. But it is triggered more by disgust than fear. 2ff7e9595c


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