Are we humans ashamed of nakedness because we are told to be or because we are naturally shameful animals?

Answer 1

Its more like we are taught that way.

We see kids in 3th world countries who ran around naked, but they are doing it happily. Try to ask kids in 1st world countries to do that and I am quite sure they would not do it.

Answer 2

I personally believe it is a hold over because of our original sin. If you go back to Genesis you will see that after eating the "forbidden fruit" the first thing they realized was their nakedness.

I suppose you could argue that it is a learned trait. The Victorian era was very prudish. The Renaissance seemed to admire the human form in art. Romans and Greeks really liked nudity and thought nothing of it. Early cultures previous and primitive ones now also cover very little and most of those coverings were for the sake of keeping blood in if you catch my meaning.
But, it has always been that way since after the Renaissance though the art of that era reflected admiration of the human form. The Romans and Greeks really got into nudity. Even less civilized cultures did not have a problem with it.

I will say though less would get done in the work force naked! Think of power machinery and something low and dangly (are you crossing your legs yet?)

Answer 3

From the time we are born we are covered up. We grow up being told that it's 'wrong' to look at pictures of naked people and never look at someone of the opposite sex who is naked. Part of it is being shameful (Aren't you ashamed you looked at that picture of the naked person)....part of it is because we are raised to believe that nakedness is 'wrong'. Something we have learned way back from Adam and Eve.

Answer 4

Because present humans are used to a culture of dressed humans who frown upon anything lead to sexuality in public. Chimpanzees aren't worried about being naked. Primitive humans without a clothing culture were probably unworried as well.

Answer 5

I think it's cultural. All kids love to be naked, and it's only as they start to learn society's disapproving attitude to nudity that they begin to feel uncomfortable about it. Even then, kids brought up as naturists will think nothing of going nude at naturist events even though they wouldn't dream of being nude with their non-naturist mates. As they grow up, some will happily continue as naturists and some choose not to - I take that to mean that the 'social conditioning' from peers and society in general becomes the dominant factor. Of course there are many people who choose to become naturists as adults so they're obviously not ashamed of nudity. Overall, I think aversion to nudity is due to culture rather than innate.

Answer 6

Ever know any children who liked to run naked? Shame of our bodies is a taught behavior.

Answer 7

Psychologically speaking: We're TAUGHT "shame"... when we're born we have no sense of much of anything until it's taught to us. Babies in utero have been known to touch themselves and even masturbate... it's a concept of "self discovery".

_()_

Answer 8

I was entrained to be a dressed creature... my parents made certain of that... as much as I rebelled that.

Answer 9

it's c-cold out there without no clothes on.