Grimwade's Syndrome: Difference between revisions

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'''Grimwade's Syndrome''', sometimes called '''Robophobia''' is a psychological condition among humans that have frequent contact with [[android]]s and [[robot]]s, commonly attributed to the androids moving like humans, but without any of the characteristic and subtle movements associated with humans. In the mind of the afflicted, they appear to be "surrounded by walking talking dead men." ([[The Doctor]], [[DW]]: [[The Robots of Death]])
{{you may|Robophobia (audio story)|n1=the audio story Robophobia}}
{{first pic|Robophobia.jpg|The [[blood]]y hand of a [[Voc]] triggered robophobia in [[Poul]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Robots of Death (TV story)|The Robots of Death]]'')}}
'''Grimwade's Syndrome''', frequently called '''robophobia''', was a psychological condition among humans who had frequent contact with [[android]]s and [[robot]]s, commonly attributed to the androids moving like humans, but without any of the characteristic and subtle movements associated with humans.


In the context of the series, the undercover agent [[Poul]] is himself already uncomfortable with robots and has a breakdown, after finding blood spatters on the hands of a smashed robot. He spends much of the remainder of the story trying to hide from the robots of the [[Sandminer]].
In the mind of the afflicted, they appeared to be "surrounded by walking, talking dead men." According to the [[Fourth Doctor]], it caused "identity crisis, paranoia, sometimes even personality disintegration".


([[DW]]: [[The Robots of Death]])
During a [[sandminer]] expedition commanded by [[Kiy Uvanov]], one of the crew, [[Zilda]]'s brother, suffered from robophobia and ran outside the mine, where he died. His father had it "hushed up" out of fear that his son would be thought a coward.


On ''[[Storm Mine 4]]'', the undercover agent [[Poul]] found blood on the hands of a broken [[Voc]] [[Kaldor android|sandminer robot]], leading to a bout of robophobic mania. [[Leela]] was unable to convince him to come out of hiding. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Robots of Death (TV story)|The Robots of Death]]'')


''An in-joke reference to production assistant Peter Grimwade (later to become a director and writer on the series) who had bemoaned the fact that the stories on which he was assigned to work almost always involved robots. However, the description of robophobia given by the Doctor in fact coincides with a real-life phenomenon called the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley Uncanny Valley]. ''
[[Grant Markham]] suffered from robophobia, which he initially attributed to hearing [[Agora]]n stories. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Time of Your Life (novel)|Time of Your Life]]'') However, this was later identified as the trauma of Grant's repressed memory of his mother being killed by a [[Cyberman]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Killing Ground (novel)|Killing Ground]]'')
 
[[Farel]] suffered from Grimwade's after hearing his wife [[Elicien]] die in a sandstorm while surronded by [[Voc]]s. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Robophobia (audio story)|Robophobia]]'')
 
While receiving a [[massage]] from a [[robot]] on [[Formicia]], the [[Sixth Doctor]] said that he was developing a case of robophobia. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Middle (audio story)|The Middle]]'')
 
When [[Ryan Sinclair|Ryan]] and [[Graham O'Brien|Graham]] stated that the [[Kerb!am Man|Kerb!am Men]] were "pretty creep", the [[Thirteenth Doctor]] replied saying it was robophobia. ([[TV]]: ''[[Kerblam! (TV story)|Kerblam!]]'')
 
== Behind the scenes ==
The name "Grimwade's Syndrome" was an in-joke reference to production assistant [[Peter Grimwade]] (later to become a director and writer on the series), who had bemoaned the fact that the stories on which he was assigned to work almost always involved robots.<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2TdP860FMcY7cJKp0ZHVl5T/the-fourth-dimension</ref> This was ad-libbed by Tom Baker during recording from the originally scripted "Gimwol's Syndrome". {{Fact}} However, the description of robophobia given by the Doctor in fact coincides with a real-life phenomenon called the {{w|uncanny valley}}.
 
== Footnotes ==
{{Reflist}}
 
[[Category:Psychiatric disorders]]
[[Category:Prejudice and discrimination]]

Latest revision as of 13:19, 5 September 2024

You may be looking for the audio story Robophobia.
The bloody hand of a Voc triggered robophobia in Poul. (TV: The Robots of Death)

Grimwade's Syndrome, frequently called robophobia, was a psychological condition among humans who had frequent contact with androids and robots, commonly attributed to the androids moving like humans, but without any of the characteristic and subtle movements associated with humans.

In the mind of the afflicted, they appeared to be "surrounded by walking, talking dead men." According to the Fourth Doctor, it caused "identity crisis, paranoia, sometimes even personality disintegration".

During a sandminer expedition commanded by Kiy Uvanov, one of the crew, Zilda's brother, suffered from robophobia and ran outside the mine, where he died. His father had it "hushed up" out of fear that his son would be thought a coward.

On Storm Mine 4, the undercover agent Poul found blood on the hands of a broken Voc sandminer robot, leading to a bout of robophobic mania. Leela was unable to convince him to come out of hiding. (TV: The Robots of Death)

Grant Markham suffered from robophobia, which he initially attributed to hearing Agoran stories. (PROSE: Time of Your Life) However, this was later identified as the trauma of Grant's repressed memory of his mother being killed by a Cyberman. (PROSE: Killing Ground)

Farel suffered from Grimwade's after hearing his wife Elicien die in a sandstorm while surronded by Vocs. (AUDIO: Robophobia)

While receiving a massage from a robot on Formicia, the Sixth Doctor said that he was developing a case of robophobia. (AUDIO: The Middle)

When Ryan and Graham stated that the Kerb!am Men were "pretty creep", the Thirteenth Doctor replied saying it was robophobia. (TV: Kerblam!)

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

The name "Grimwade's Syndrome" was an in-joke reference to production assistant Peter Grimwade (later to become a director and writer on the series), who had bemoaned the fact that the stories on which he was assigned to work almost always involved robots.[1] This was ad-libbed by Tom Baker during recording from the originally scripted "Gimwol's Syndrome". [source needed] However, the description of robophobia given by the Doctor in fact coincides with a real-life phenomenon called the uncanny valley.

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]