Spectrophobia

{{Short description|Fear of mirrors}}

{{additional citations|date=April 2018}}

Spectrophobia (derived from Latin: spectrum, n. specio, an appearance, form, image of a thing; an apparition, spectre) or catoptrophobia (from Greek κάτοπτρον kátoptron, "mirror") is a kind of specific phobia involving an abnormal and persistent fear of mirrors, and an anxiety about seeing one's own face reflected in them.{{cite book |last1=Ferenczi |first1=Sandor |title=Further Contributions to the Theory and Technique of Psycho-Analysis |date=1994 |publisher=Karnac Books |isbn=9781855750869 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EN-eCP-fgO0C&q=%22spectrophobia+%22&pg=PA365 |access-date=28 August 2019 |language=en}} It is sometimes related to the fear of ghosts or the undead.{{cn|date=August 2019}}

This phobia is distinct from eisoptrophobia, which is the fear of one's own reflection. Sufferers of spectrophobia can fear the breaking of a mirror bringing extreme bad luck.{{cn|date=August 2019}} They can fear the thought of something frightening jumping out of the mirror, or seeing something disturbing inside of it next to their own reflection when looking directly at it.{{cn|date=August 2019}} Others fear that it is a link to the preternatural world or a gateway into another world, and may fear being pulled into the mirror by some preternatural force.{{cn|date=August 2019}} Some also fear their own reflection in the darkness, as it can appear distorted in strange ways or their reflection may frighten them.{{cn|date=August 2019}}