June's Pupaphobia Brought on Reoccurring Nightmares Specifically Involving Punch

Psychologists often link pupaphobia to the "uncanny valley" effect. This is the unsettling feeling people experience when confronted with objects that look almost, but not exactly, like real humans. Because puppets are inanimate objects that mimic living creatures and are controlled by someone else, they can evoke feelings of unpredictability and fear.