Gymnophobia
SpecialtyPsychiatry
SymptomsFear of nudity

Gymnophobia is a fear (phobia) of or prejudice against nudity.

Symptoms

Gymnophobics experience anxiety from nudity, even if they realize their fear is irrational. They may worry about seeing others naked, being seen naked, or both. Their fear may stem from body dysmorphia, trauma, or a general anxiety about sexuality, from a fear that they are physically inferior, or from a fear that their nakedness leaves them bodyshamed, exposed and unprotected.[1]

Gymnophobia refers to an actual fear of nudity, but most sufferers with the condition learn how to function in general society despite the condition. They may, for example, avoid ill fitted, poor quality and revealing clothes, changing rooms, washrooms, showers, gyms, hostels, hotel rooms, medical facilities, security facilities, pools and beaches. It applies to any place where two-way mirrors and hidden cameras can be put, and phones or recording devices could be used; however, the condition can be regarded as hypochondriasis or an anxiety disorder if the person cannot control the phobia or it is interfering with their daily life and medical examinations.[2]

Non Medical Usage

Gymnophobia has also been used to describe those that are prejudiced against naked people or nudists.[3][4]

Etymology

The term gymnophobia comes from the Greek γυμνός - gumnos, "naked"[5] and φόβος - phobos, "fear".[6] A phobia that has a significant amount of overlap with gymnophobia is dishabiliophobia, which is the fear of undressing in front of others.[7]

In fiction

Gymnophobia has been likened to the fictional condition "never-nude" portrayed in the comedy series Arrested Development.[8][9][10][11][12]

See also

Look up gymnophobia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

References

  1. ^ "Gymnophobia". MedicineNet.
  2. ^ Edmund J. Bourne (2005-05-01). The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook. New Harbinger Publications Incorporated. ISBN 978-1-57224-413-9.
  3. ^ Share, Immy (18 February 2024). "The Orpington couple who only wear clothes when they have to". News Shopper. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Prof. Annebella Pollen on X". Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  5. ^ γυμνός, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
  6. ^ φόβος, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
  7. ^ Greene, Elliot (2013). The Psychology of the Body. p. 240.
  8. ^ Nick Haslam (23 May 2013). "No more cover-up: bared bodies and never nudes exposed". The Conversation.
  9. ^ Meghan Holohan (17 May 2013). "Gymnophobics are real-life 'never-nudes'". NBC News.
  10. ^ "Best Tobias Funke Moments". Mental Floss. 28 May 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-12-30. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  11. ^ Tracie Egan Morrissey (17 May 2013). "'Never Nude' Is Actually a Real Condition". Jezebel.
  12. ^ O'Neal, Sean (17 May 2013). "Here's a timely reminder that "never-nudes" aren't just something Arrested Development made up". AV Club.


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