Automatonophobiac

The automatonophobiac finds it difficult to completely separate the artificial nature of a doll or mannequin from the lifelike characteristics they display. The more realistic or authentic an object appears, the more likely it is to elicit anxiety or despair in the automatonophobiac.

So, what’s a^([sic]) automatonophobiac to do? Exposure therapy, in which subjects are eased into facing their fears, is quite effective in treating phobias, according to every psychologist I interviewed. It’s just a matter of wanting to do the work.