Who’s afraid of newcomers, outsiders, and other individuals
who may seem alien or unknown? Certainly, many are legitimately leery, and
their stance may fall into the realm of smart safety awareness. But some people
are truly terrified of any persons they do not know.
Xenophobia is the
fear of strangers.
The word comes in part from the Greek word “xenos,” which
means “stranger” or “visitor.”
Specifically, xenophobia pertains to a severe fear of
foreigners, although the term may apply to those who are afraid of anyone
unfamiliar. In plenty of cases, xenophobia may be attached to a sense of
stranger danger, while in others it may arise from actual traumatic experiences
involving unrecognized people. For some, this phobia may have no known origin
at all.
Xenophobia is a fairly common fear, so it’s fair to say this
phobia of strangers is not so strange at all.
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