Nakedness and Shame

• Introducing Shame Language to Clients by Brett Schur - Havertown, PA - bschur@msn.com, 3/12/96
  • idiosyncratic affect labels by Don Nathanson, 3/13/96
    • Shame: A Family of Emotions by Vick Kelly, 3/13/96
      
      

Wonderful website, forum and information!

I'm a member of a group recently enjoined for the purpose of developing a philosophy of nakedness. We are naturists or friends of naturism/nudism interested in knowing more about the values and advantages of our lifestyle.

I personally have a focus on how being physically naked with others is therapeutic in contrast to the clothes-conscious society, what we call the mainstream, from which many of us came. (Some grow up with casual nudity.) But I recognize that the physical aspect must be explained above all! Since body shame is the aspect most obviously addressed, social intimacy formed within an outcast group is certainly not enough to account for why what we do is valuable to us. And then there is the problem of accounting for why it is that amongst us there is a wide range of levels of psychological nakedness to be found, as if behavior can be radically changed without any personal benefit to the individual, in some cases, and make a radical difference in others.

If any of the affect theory literature addresses/stresses bodily presentation (nakedness, nudity or whatever your preferrred term), especially if it leans towards existential concerns with interpersonal being, sexuality and death, we would be most delighted to know about it. I will be investigating affect theory further in any case, but would appreciate pointers in the meantime.

http://www.naturist.com/nmag/16.1/205.htm presents some of the material we have to work with.

If there are any therapists or theorists on the forum who have personal experience with social nudity, it would be wonderful to hear from you.

And finally, a note to "Herman": in our own discussions, we recognize that using the word "naked" has a special connotation, quite different from nudity, skinny-dipping, au natural, in the buff, bare, etc.

Kindest regards, Jan Braswell CA.JK.Braswell@worldnet.att.net

• exposure by Don Nathanson, 1/15/97
  • Thanks so much by Jan Braswell, 1/16/97
  • SITUATIONAL SHAME by Phil Feldman, PhD, 3/3/98
    • clear situations generate heathly shame by Cameron fritsch ,student, 8/25/98