Anthropophobia: Fear of People

What is anthropophobia? While anthropophobia isn’t a formal diagnosis per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed (DSM-5), it is recognized as a real phobia that causes an extreme, often debilitating fear of people. 

Anthropophobia, also sometimes spelled anthrophobia, is an interpersonal fear disorder that’s closely related to some other phobias, specifically with “taijin kyofusho” (the Japanese concept of having an intense fear of interpersonal relationships) — note that taijin kyofusho actually is recognized in the DSM-5 as a true clinical disorder. 

Though it can be natural and common to occasionally feel nervous around other people, especially when meeting someone for the first time, people with anthropophobia experience extreme fears that manifest in many ways. This extreme fear is sparked by a social situation or social interaction, and at times can even induce a panic attack. It can cause people to fear being judged, watched, or threatened by others.

While anthropophobia can also be a part of social anxiety disorder, the two conditions aren’t the same. Check out this list of phobias to understand all the different types. Keep reading to learn more about anthropophobia, including how it differs from social phobia, effective treatment options (such as online therapy offered here at Talkspace), and more.

To truly understand what is anthropophobia, you should know what makes it different from the closely related yet distinct condition known as social phobia. Although it’s common for people with anthropophobia to experience anxiety in social situations, the condition differs from social phobia in several ways.

Social phobia, also referred to as social anxiety, causes people to fear social behaviors and interactions. For example, they may go to great lengths to avoid talking on the phone, eating in public, or going to a party. On the other hand, anthropophobia is a fear of people, not of behaviors or settings.

People with social anxiety may be comfortable in small groups or around people they know well. This isn’t the case for someone with anthropophobia, which can cause feelings of severe, almost paralyzing anxiety anytime they’re in the presence of someone else. Anthropophobia can significantly interfere with everyday activities.

This phobia also has the potential to change existing relationships. People with anthropophobia might no longer feel safe or comfortable around the people they’ve been close to. It can cause them to see everyone around them as a threat, and yes, this can include even beloved friends or family members.

Anthropophobia causes symptoms of anxiety when they’re around others. Someone might experience anticipatory anxiety when they know they’ll soon need to be around other people.

Since this phobia isn’t classified as an individual clinical diagnosis in the DSM-5, there aren’t any true, specific clinical conditions. However, it does fall under the classification of “phobia not otherwise specified,” and can be identified by those symptoms.

Potential common anthropophobia symptoms can include:

• Intense fear or anxiety (in this case, of other people or one person)
• Significant difficulties with social interactions
• Fear of being seen by others
• Fear or anxiety about causing offense
• Negatively comparing self to others
• Perceiving other people as a threat
• Experiencing emotional and physical distress prior to social events
• Depression

Note these symptoms must not be attributed to another condition, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or delusional disorder.

When someone with anthropophobia is around others, it can trigger their fight or flight response. This can cause them to experience physical symptoms of anxiety, such as:

• Elevated heart rate
• Shaking
• Sweating
• Pale or flushed skin
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Panic attacks

There isn’t always a clear cause for anthropophobia. However, there are several potential factors that likely contribute. 

• Personal trauma: The condition has been strongly linked to personal trauma. Someone might develop a fear of people phobia after a single traumatic event, such as being harmed by a trusted person, or after a series of traumatic experiences.

• Learned behavior: Phobias like anthropophobia are often learned. If someone’s been repeatedly mistreated by people around them, they may learn to see everyone as a threat. In some cases, anthropophobia might also develop after witnessing others experience extreme abuse.

• Adrenal glands: Some research suggests that social phobias might result from hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction. There is some thought that anthropophobia might also be caused by malfunctioning adrenal glands, causing people to feel intense fear in normal situations.  
• Behavioral inhibition gene: Past studies on people with anthropophobia suggest there may be a genetic component at play. Research shows that 10 – 15% of people living with anthropophobia had very early signs.  

"Most phobias are rooted in trauma. Anthropophobia is no different. Knowing that there are treatment options for trauma and phobias is a great first step that hopefully inspires a small bit of hope. You’re not alone, and finding a trauma-informed therapist can help." - Talkspace therapist Ashley Ertel, LCSW, BCD