Research Into Camera Shyness

In trying to understand camera shyness, I have scoured the internet for possible reasons to fear being in front of the camera. While some people are self-conscious in front of the camera, some are paralytically scared.

Here is a list of reasons that people can be wary of cameras, compiled through both primary and secondary research sources;

1. Low self-esteem/self-worth
2. A lack of confidence
3. Fear of new technology
4. Belief that they are 'not photogenic'
5. The thought of having an image of yourself out in the world, out of your control
6. Some tribes believe that taking a picture of someone 'steals their soul'
7. 'The camera has the power to make me look bad' thoughts
8. “A picture paints a thousand words” and some people are scared of what will be read
9. Some fear cameras because they can look like / be aimed like / be triggered like a weapon
10. Commonly, people are scared because we don't actually look or sound how we think we look or sound.

Therefore, I have compiled a list of the possible phobias associated with camera shyness;

1. Catagelophobia – the fear of being embarrassed or ridiculed
2. Gelotophobia – the fear of being laughed at
3. Glossophobia – the fear of public speaking
4. Sociophobia – the fear of people / social situations
5. Scopophobia – the fear of being looked at / stared at
6. Technophobia – the fear of technology

However, there is no actual Latin term for the fear of cameras themselves – which, maybe, should be a feature in the documentary, as evidence that this fear is not commonly understood.

((Information gathered from Wikipedia and phobialist.com))