The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 326 points (2.1%) on Feb. 3, triggering a flood of stock market crash talk. 

January wasn't any better – the Dow suffered its worst January since 2009 and its worst month since May 2012, deflating 5.3%. (The S&P 500 slid 3.6%, also its worst monthly performance since May 2012, and the Nasdaq dropped 1.7%, its worst since October 2012.)

Three factors are making market-watchers fearful of a full-blown stock market crash:

1. The Dow climbed 27.36% in 2013.
2. An official market correction – defined as a decline of 10% or more – hasn't happened since 2011.
3. The VIX, Wall Street's volatility measure and "fear gauge," climbed almost 9% on Feb. 3, its highest level since October 2013.