{{Short description|Fear of or prejudice against nudity}} {{For|the abnormal fear of women|Gynophobia}} {{Infobox medical condition (new) | name = Gymnophobia | field = Psychiatry | symptoms = Fear 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, fear of sexual assault, or a general anxiety about sexuality, from a fear that they are physically inferior, or from a fear that their nakedness leaves them body shamed, exposed and unprotected.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=12335|title=Gymnophobia|work=MedicineNet|access-date=2008-05-01|archive-date=2014-05-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529052614/http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=12335|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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 one-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.<ref>{{cite book| author = Edmund J. Bourne| title = The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook| date = 2005-05-01| publisher = New Harbinger Publications Incorporated| isbn = 978-1-57224-413-9| url-access = registration| url = https://archive.org/details/anxietyphobiawor00edmu_0}}</ref>
==Non-medical usage== Gymnophobia has also been used to describe those that are prejudiced against naked people or nudists.<ref name="NSO">{{cite news | url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/24120191.orpington-couple-wear-clothes/ | title=The Orpington couple who only wear clothes when they have to | newspaper=News Shopper | first=Immy | last=Share | date=18 February 2024 | access-date=5 March 2024 | archive-date=24 February 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224100918/https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/24120191.orpington-couple-wear-clothes/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Prof. Annebella Pollen on X | url=https://twitter.com/AnnebellaPollen/status/1741799137094341110 | access-date=13 March 2024 }}</ref>
==Etymology== The term ''gymnophobia'' comes from the Greek γυμνός - ''gumnos'', "naked"<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dgumno%2Fs γυμνός], Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus</ref> and φόβος - ''phobos'', "fear".<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dfo%2Fbos φόβος], Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus</ref> A phobia that has a significant amount of overlap with gymnophobia is dishabiliophobia, which is the fear of undressing in front of others.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Greene|first1=Elliot|title=The Psychology of the Body|date=2013|page=240}}</ref>
==In fiction== Gymnophobia has been likened to the fictional condition "never-nude" portrayed by Tobias Funke in the comedy series ''Arrested Development''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theconversation.com/no-more-cover-up-bared-bodies-and-never-nudes-exposed-14468|title=No more cover-up: bared bodies and never nudes exposed|author=Nick Haslam|date=23 May 2013|work=The Conversation}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/health/gymnophobics-are-real-life-never-nudes-1C9967792?franchiseSlug=healthmain|title=Gymnophobics are real-life 'never-nudes'|author=Meghan Holohan|work=NBC News|date=17 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mentalfloss.com/tobias-f%C3%BCnkes-nevernude-problem-real-its-called-gymnophobia-or-fear-nude-bodies|title=Best Tobias Funke Moments|date=28 May 2013|website=Mental Floss|access-date=2013-12-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230235423/https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/50781/late-movies-best-tobias-funke-moments|archive-date=2013-12-30|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://jezebel.com/never-nude-is-actually-a-real-condition-508191702|title='Never Nude' Is Actually a Real Condition|author=Tracie Egan Morrissey|website=Jezebel|date=17 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/article/heres-a-timely-reminder-that-never-nudes-arent-jus-97918|title=Here's a timely reminder that "never-nudes" aren't just something Arrested Development made up|website=AV Club|first=Sean|last=O'Neal|date=17 May 2013}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Nudity}} *Antisexualism *Erotophobia *List of phobias
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{wiktionary-inline|gymnophobia}}
{{Nudity}} {{Human reproductive health}}
Category:Situational phobias Category:Prudishness Category:Body-related phobias
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