- Gymnophobia
Gymnophobia is a
fear (phobia ) ofnudity . Gymnophobics experienceanxiety from nudity, even if they realize their fear is irrational. They may worry about seeing others naked or being seen naked, or both. Their fear may stem from a general anxiety about sexuality, from a fear that they are physically inferior, or from a fear that their nakedness leaves them exposed and unprotected. [ [http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=12335 medterms.com] ]Name
"Gymnophobia" is derived from the Greek "gymnos" (naked) and "phobos" (fear) (cf. the etymology of the word "").
Degrees
Standards of
modesty (also called demureness or reticence) generally preventpublic nudity . Avoidance of nudity in private situations may be a continuation of modesty, or may extend to prudishness orbody shame [ [http://www.rejectshame.com/ Body Shame] ] . Only an actual fear of nudity qualifies as gymnophobia. Only when the fear is beyond one's control or is interfering with daily life can ananxiety disorder diagnosis be made. [Edmund J. Bourne, "The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook, 4th ed", New Harbinger Publications, 2005, ISBN 1-57224-413-5]In popular culture
In the television show "Arrested Development", the characters of
Tobias Fünke and Philip Lit suffer from gymnophobia. In the world of the show, they are referred to as "never nude s", and they wear cut-off denim shorts at all times to avoid being completely naked.References
ee also
*
Modesty
*Prude
*Sex-negativity
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