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Bob Knows
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Posted - 04/23/2012 : 3:37:29 PM
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I was reading on another forum about the psychology of nudism and exhibitionism. One fellow there had studied a lot of psychology and who had also talked to shrinks about his own compulsive nudism. He talked about how a lot of the motivation for nudity is a psychological need for acceptance that somehow was missing when we were children. Being naked in front of others forces them to either accept or reject our basic physical selves. This theory undoubtedly isn't the whole picture, and doesn't apply to every nudist, but it makes a lot of sense for many.
It gives a perspective about teens from nudist families who give up nudism when they grow up. Teens from nudist families lean that their bodies are acceptable as children. Adults who grew up being accepted for their naked body do not need to confront others with their nakedness to gain approval. Adults from nudist families can go naked, or not, without the psychological compulsions that adults from body shame and rejection families have buried deep in our psyche.
As said already this is probably not applicable to everyone, but it gives a psychological perspective about some of the teens not following the nudism of their parents generation.
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Nudony
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Posted - 04/23/2012 : 11:52:55 PM
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Very good point. In my case my drive towards social nudism certainly came from a need of acceptance or belonging. The nudity "breaks down" the relating to other human beings to one of its most basic levels. I wouldn't say that it forces others to reject or accept my basic self; rather, I would say it removes my sense of separation from other human beings.
For my daughter, raised as a nudist, there was no psychological drive. She simply enjoyed the physical sensation of nudity, and never needed to seek an acceptance that had been granted to her her entire life. When puberty came along and her physical enjoyment of nudity started receding; and with no emotional or psychological need for nudism, she quite simply turned away from it.
But there are nudist children that remain nudists into adulthood. What I've noted is that when they did, there was usually some deep emotional or affective connection to nudism, that went beyond the mere physical enjoyment of nudity. One I've noticed is the effect of a fully engaged nudist Mom. I think the nudist Mom becomes a physical manifestation of nurture and comfort, and so the kids develop an emotional attachment to being nude with their Mom - sometimes even going into adulthood. Also, a strong friendship, sometimes lifelong, might keep kids returning to the nudist resort year after year. I met two best friends once who had literally been nude together since they were babies. Continuing to meet up at the resort and being nude together was an inherent part of the bond of friendship they shared.
I wish there were more in-depth studies about the "nudist mind." It's just a facinating subject.
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Edited by - Nudony on 04/23/2012 11:59:00 PM |
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Rachelweeks
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 Posted - 05/29/2012 : 11:56:59 AM
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My folks weren't true nudists but let me run loose from an early age (WA is pretty damn hot much of the year and there's no nicer way to cool down in the afternoon than an on-shore breeze blowing across your skin). When I reached puberty, I did the expected thing and got all self-conscious about my body and covered up. My parents didn't actively stop me from continuing to go nude on the beach but they certainly didn't encourage me or reassure me in anyway that it was still acceptable.
I was determined to bring my kids up differently. Bizarrely, I really got back into the nudist lifestyle while I was pregnant with my eldest (I'll call her Claire to preserve her anonymity) - I suppose I was just really proud of what my body was doing at the time. Claire and my youngest (call him Jack) would be kept in the shade and smothered in factor 30 but would never be encumbered in clothes etc. on the beach and in the garden (house was a bit different until they were potty trained) but this led to them both being perfectly comfortable running around naked during their adolescence, both in the company of other nudists and textiles. We had a few "wobbles" around puberty. Jack felt peer group pressure to spend more time hanging out with his mates (ironically, stopping him "hanging out" for a few months) but after a while he got back in the routine of shedding clothes with us at home. Claire came in for a bit of stick from some of her friends when she "outed" herself (both as a nudist and gay) but, to her credit, she defended her nude lifestyle as strongly as her sexuality and although she fell out with one or two of them, most of her friends became supportive and accepting of her preferences.
Both of my kids are still practicing nudists. We are all comfortable around each other in the nude and in the case of Claire, her partner Jane (name changed etc.)is comfortable disrobing with us.
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FireProf
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Posted - 05/29/2012 : 1:00:58 PM
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For us ... it was from the start. The girls spent most of the time inside, outside, in the pool and hot tub without clothing or suits.
The too succumbed to peer pressure at the ages of 12 and 10 when their friends made fun of them for being nude with their parents.
Some 20+ years later ... both girls and their family's returned to their roots and accompanied us on a annual trip to the caribbean and a nude beach resort for a week. Long story short ... the ONLY thing holding them back from going again and again ... $$$
They have not adopted a nudist lifestyle like we have but they aren't shy about telling their friends about what they do when they partake in some nude recreation, vacation or skinny dippin' at their mom and dad's.
A few of their friends have tried it but they suffer from body image issues and they will need to get over that before they will dabble in it more often. We talk to our daughter's friends quite a bit about naturism/nudism and they seem truly interested.
Our daughter's aren't raising our grandkids as nudists but they are exposed to nudism when they stay with us. There is casual nudity in their homes but not to the extent we live. For them ... they will most likely be re-introduced to it at a later time when they decide they don't mind vacationing with Granpa and Granma at their "naked club."
Loves being naked. Plays well with others!
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Rachelweeks
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Posted - 05/30/2012 : 12:14:31 PM
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I was interested to read the post on the difference between nudism and exhibitionism. I will probably upset a few people by stating that they are not dissimilar states of mind. Generally, I am happy to be in a state of undress regardless of whether I am on a nudist beach, in my own back yard or just in the bathroom cleaning my teeth. However, when I was pregnant with my first, I was emboldened enough to uncover myself after a number of years of covering up. I cannot deny that there was a certain thrill in this, which I felt again when I was pregnant with Jack. This is probably a hormonal thing, but it is something I felt and reacted to and there was definitely a "buzz" there. Does this make me an exhibitionist?
My son, Jack, once told me that he was swimming at a local pool which was so busy that he was forced to change in the communal area rather than the changing rooms. He said that because he was forced to get naked in a setting where he would normally expect everyone to be clothed, he found it a little bit more exciting than he felt comfortable with. As far as I am concerned, this is not a sexual thing, but a manifestation of the excitement of "breaking the rules"
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sailawaybob
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Posted - 05/31/2012 : 9:01:13 PM
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There was a pretty good segment on 20/20 recently involving a family of four ( mother ,father two boys 15 & 9) living in a nudist camp in south Florida. It can be view on 20/20 website, it was titled extreme parents.
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rahel
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Posted - 05/31/2012 : 9:20:03 PM
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Thank you Sallawaybob, I watched the program and found it very interesting. I understand completely the family, but they started young. As you might have read me before, although I always sleep in the nude, and my husband now joined me, when the children were growing up it would have never pass my mind to start being nude in front of the children. Of course now they are in their forties, and I will never dare being nude in front of any of my children or grand children. But I liked the program
rahel
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NudeNate
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Posted - 06/01/2012 : 11:03:11 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by rahel
Thank you Sallawaybob, I watched the program and found it very interesting. I understand completely the family, but they started young. As you might have read me before, although I always sleep in the nude, and my husband now joined me, when the children were growing up it would have never pass my mind to start being nude in front of the children. Of course now they are in their forties, and I will never dare being nude in front of any of my children or grand children. But I liked the program
I didn't see the program and they don't seem to have a video but I did read the article. Wish I could see the video
rahel
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Nudony
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Posted - 06/01/2012 : 12:22:06 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by rahel
Thank you Sallawaybob, I watched the program and found it very interesting. I understand completely the family, but they started young.
As other people and I have pointed out in this thread, it's a lot easier when you start from Day 1. As your kids grow up and have always seen you nude, family nudity become like breathing.
The family on 20/20 raised some interesting questions. While I applaud their commitment to nudism, is it really right to cut off your kids from the outside world? Both kids had very few relationships outside of nudism; and I'm not sure that's the right way to go when bringing up kids as nudists. A more balanced approach is healthier IMHO.
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Edited by - Nudony on 06/01/2012 12:23:08 PM |
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Ricki00
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Posted - 06/05/2012 : 1:47:59 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by sailawaybob
There was a pretty good segment on 20/20 recently involving a family of four ( mother ,father two boys 15 & 9) living in a nudist camp in south Florida. It can be view on 20/20 website, it was titled extreme parents.
We all watched that segment on 20/20.The only thing that I think that 20/20 tried to give this perspective that raising a family in a nude environment would be extreme parenting in which I would have to disagree.
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rooftopwilly
Forum Member
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Posted - 06/05/2012 : 9:10:18 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Rachelweeks
I was interested to read the post on the difference between nudism and exhibitionism. I will probably upset a few people by stating that they are not dissimilar states of mind. Generally, I am happy to be in a state of undress regardless of whether I am on a nudist beach, in my own back yard or just in the bathroom cleaning my teeth. However, when I was pregnant with my first, I was emboldened enough to uncover myself after a number of years of covering up. I cannot deny that there was a certain thrill in this, which I felt again when I was pregnant with Jack. This is probably a hormonal thing, but it is something I felt and reacted to and there was definitely a "buzz" there. Does this make me an exhibitionist?
My son, Jack, once told me that he was swimming at a local pool which was so busy that he was forced to change in the communal area rather than the changing rooms. He said that because he was forced to get naked in a setting where he would normally expect everyone to be clothed, he found it a little bit more exciting than he felt comfortable with. As far as I am concerned, this is not a sexual thing, but a manifestation of the excitement of "breaking the rules"
I couldn't agree with you more Rachel. I sometimes enjoy the "thrill" of being seen naked in a non nudist setting. Doesn't exactly make me an exhibitionist. Then again, I don't like the labels period. I don't consider myself a "nudist" nor do I consider myself an "exhibitionist". I consider myself as someone who loves to be naked as much as possible.
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FireProf
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Posted - 06/05/2012 : 10:35:29 PM
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For lack of a different word ... I would agree that there is a certain "thrill" to getting naked. I'm not much into being "seen" naked but if that should occur, I don't think it's a bad thing.
Example; We have three neighbors that have a line of sight into our backyard and side yards. I am naked about 99.9% of the time while I'm out in these yards and I've been seen by all of these neighbors. I don't go out there purposely to been seen naked by them but ... if they do see me, I don't make a fuss about it, nor do I lay or position myself to expose myself to them. I just go about my normal routine as I would if I were clothed and I think that's why they don't make a fuss about it as well.
I do get a different feeling about my nudity when I'm outdoors. It's a freeing feeling and I really think that's what children feel when they are naked. It's really too bad that they are conditioned to suppress that urge and it's too bad that adults do that to them.
Loves being naked. Plays well with others!
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Bob Knows
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Posted - 06/06/2012 : 09:17:54 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by rooftopwilly
I couldn't agree with you more Rachel. I sometimes enjoy the "thrill" of being seen naked in a non nudist setting. Doesn't exactly make me an exhibitionist. Then again, I don't like the labels period. I don't consider myself a "nudist" nor do I consider myself an "exhibitionist". I consider myself as someone who loves to be naked as much as possible.
I'm with rooftop. I'm not a "nudist" nor an "exhibitionist" but I enjoy being naked and I enjoy being seen naked.
The more often "normal" people see naked human bodies engaged in "normal" activity, the more "normal" it becomes to be naked.
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Rachelweeks
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Posted - 06/06/2012 : 10:22:19 AM
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[/quote]
I couldn't agree with you more Rachel. I sometimes enjoy the "thrill" of being seen naked in a non nudist setting. Doesn't exactly make me an exhibitionist. Then again, I don't like the labels period. I don't consider myself a "nudist" nor do I consider myself an "exhibitionist". I consider myself as someone who loves to be naked as much as possible.
[/quote]
Thanks for the encouraging words Willy. I enjoy just being naked on a nudist beach in a different way to perhaps walking naked down the beach well away from the other nudists and passing a textile couple walking their dog. Where I usually go, they will be more than aware that they can expect to see naked bodies, but I get a thrill encountering them so remote from others in such a vulnerable state. I like to make a point of greeting them as the natural textile reaction is to pretend to notice that you're not there. A cheery "lovely day!" gives them no room for manoeuvre and they have to acknowledge you.
I am glad that doesn't make me a exhibitionist. I just like to glory in the feeling of being totally unfettered
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sailawaybob
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Posted - 06/06/2012 : 10:15:16 PM
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With reference to th 20/20 program I agree with Nudony that the kids were cut off from the rest of the world, I'm a big supporter of home schooling but in this case I would support public school for this kids so they could interact with their peers sure they have that at the nudist camp but to me not enough. When I was living in Florida as a kid my parents actually moved us into a serior community with few kids my age, I actually couldn't wait to get to school and interact with someone my age.
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Raising kids as nudists from the start or later?
