erotophobia
- noun
- /ˌɛrəˈtoʊfəbiə/
- Specialized
- Many people with erotophobia may experience anxiety when faced with sexual topics in conversation.
Examples
-
If phenomena such as sex guilt or erotophobia are to affect experiences of sexual arousal and fantasy, they presumably must do so via their effects on the feelings that accompany these experiences (Knoth, Boyd, & Singer, 1988).
Academic text (1990) -
Predictors included pre-existing sexual attitudes (erotophobia), both trait and state positive and negative affect, self-focused attention, and interoceptive awareness.
Academic text (2004) -
We used this measure to assess the concepts of erotophobia-erotophilia.
Academic text (2004) -
Given the state of the literature, this is a highly speculative interpretation of these findings, especially given that the effects associated with erotophobia tend to be small.
Academic text (2002) -
She struggled with erotophobia, which made it hard for her to discuss her feelings about relationships.
-
His erotophobia prevented him from enjoying intimate moments, leaving him feeling isolated.
Antonyms
How Averse
Surface Forms
Morphology
erotophobia = eroto + phobia
This is a learned neoclassical formation built from the combining form eroto- and the word phobia, so the meaning is partly recoverable but still specialized.
Etymology
Erotophobia comes from the Greek root eros meaning 'love' or 'desire' and the ending -phobia meaning 'fear'. So erotophobia is like a 'fear of love' and helps you remember it as a strong fear or dislike of sex, sexual feelings, or talking about sexual topics.