Family gatherings and reunions with kin both far and near
may be joyful occasions for plenty of people. But such events can also be
stressful prospects, particularly for anyone with syngenesophobia.
Syngenesophobia is
the fear of relatives.
The word “syngenesophobia” includes the prefix “syn,” which
means “together” or “identical” in ancient Greek. Add that to “genes” and “phobia,”
and it represents a fear of someone with the same genes. That’s family.
Categorized as a social phobia, syngenesophobia may involve
a general dread of family or a specific fear of certain relatives. It’s more
than a mild dislike or disinterest. This is a genuine fear.
A person may be alarmingly apprehensive about an aunt, uneasy
with an uncle, creeped out by a cousin, aghast of a grandparent, or terrified
of another member of the clan. The mere prospect of a visit might strike such
an individual with horror.
Syngenesophobia may or may not result from a traumatic
experience or memory involving the target of the familial fear.
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