Can people unlearn their naked shame?

News Type: Other — Seeded on Tue Mar 3, 2009 1:25 AM EST

Article Source: BBC News

education, psychology, sociology, nudity

"All around the world individuals feel great shame when they know that others know that they have failed to be adequately modest," Prof Fessler says. "Essentially, they're signalling to those around them 'I understand what the social norm is and I understand that you know that I have failed in this regard, so please don't hurt me.'

"Nudity is a threat to the basic social contract. They have exposed their body and their sexual selves in a way that presents an opportunity for sexual behaviour outside of the principal union."

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5.9

{"commentId":5700287,"authorDomain":"chasing"}

Chasing

It chimes with the psychologists' theory that we are not born with a shame of nudity. Instead we learn it, as an important behavioural code that allows us to operate in human society.

{"commentId":5700287,"threadId":"516814","contentId":"2498752","authorDomain":"chasing"}

3 votes

#1 - Tue Mar 3, 2009 1:26 AM EST

{"commentId":5725156,"authorDomain":"eriqalan"}

eriq samson

I don't know that it is that important. There have been societies all through time that accepted nudity as normal and don't have this hangup.

Obviously it is learned; we aren't born with clothes

{"commentId":5725156,"threadId":"516814","contentId":"2498752","authorDomain":"eriqalan"}

2 votes

#2 - Wed Mar 4, 2009 1:00 AM EST

{"commentId":5749645,"authorDomain":"chasing"}

Chasing

Agreed. Clothing serves a purpose and has helped us adapt to a wide variety of climates. To me that would seem the simplest explanation. But that wouldn't explain the shame that many people feel about it, so I dunno...

{"commentId":5749645,"threadId":"516814","contentId":"2498752","authorDomain":"chasing"}

1 vote

#2.1 - Thu Mar 5, 2009 3:02 AM EST

{"commentId":5754537,"authorDomain":"membersonly"}

membersonly

Socialization by prudes explains the shame.

{"commentId":5754537,"threadId":"516814","contentId":"2498752","authorDomain":"membersonly"}

2 votes

#2.2 - Thu Mar 5, 2009 11:01 AM EST

{"commentId":5767124,"authorDomain":"chasing"}

Chasing

Where'd the prudes come from? Granted, the US still holds dear to some very Puritanical values... But it's not the only one. It seems to be a cross-cultural phenomenon, albeit, obviously, not a universal one.

{"commentId":5767124,"threadId":"516814","contentId":"2498752","authorDomain":"chasing"}

1 vote

#2.3 - Thu Mar 5, 2009 6:56 PM EST

{"commentId":5798115,"authorDomain":"membersonly"}

membersonly

If I had to guess, I would say it probably has something to do with Western religion...

{"commentId":5798115,"threadId":"516814","contentId":"2498752","authorDomain":"membersonly"}

2 votes

#2.4 - Sat Mar 7, 2009 12:20 PM EST

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CHASING

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Can people unlearn their naked shame?

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