The mention of aphenphosmphobia in Death Stranding will probably have you googling right away, trying to find out more about it. It is a real thing, although that term is a very old name for the condition. The game brings it up, but very quickly move on in Death Stranding, leaving you unsure if it’s a big deal or some random background. If you want to know more then I’ve done some research and can explain what Death Stranding aphenphosmphobia is, and what it means for Norman Reedus’ character.

What is aphenphosmphobia in Death Stranding?

Aphenphosmphobia in Death Stranding is a fear of being touched, although the full blown condition in real life also includes a fear of being emotionally touched – commitment, being loved, human contact in general is enough to upset a sufferer.   

Aphenphosmphobia isn’t a physical condition however, which Death Stranding confuses slightly thanks to all the BT handprints all over Sam’s body, as well as one from a person he meets at the start of the game. In the story Sam doesn’t like being touched which is a nice metaphor for a game about connections, but in reality it’s a phobia and a mental, not physical, condition defined by an “overwhelming and debilitating fear” – something Sam doesn’t demonstrate.

The condition is also more commonly know by it’s modern name. haphephobia, which obviously isn’t as fun to say as aphenphosmphobia. Haphephobia can sometimes have pain-like symptoms, and is often associated with sexual assault, which might be another reason for the slightly more obscure naming variation used here. 

A more accurate condition for Sam, then, which would explain the physical impact it has on him, could be tactile allodynia. That’s a neurological condition that can make touching physically painful, as well as other normal stimuli like temperature. But that’s less of a nice metaphor. 

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