An irrational fear of being touched or of touching others; an anxiety disorder involving tactile contact.
From Greek 'haphē' (touch) combined with 'phobos' (fear), literally 'fear of touching,' formally constructed using the standard Greek morphemes for medical and psychological conditions.
Haphophobia connects to autism, sensory processing disorder, and trauma responses—it's not just about being shy, but a genuine physiological aversion to tactile sensation that can be deeply isolating.
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