23-06-2025
‘Benign masochism' of naked swimming brings us closer together
Wild swimming in a chilly river; running into the freezing sea for a new year's day splash; impulsive skinny-dipping in the cold waters of a lake. Why do these people do it?
Jumping naked into the water with a group of other people might sound hellish to many, but the so-called 'benign masochism' and resultant 'trauma bonding' can bring participants closer together, a study has found.
The effect is similar to eating spicy food or watching horror movies. For while the practice may sound painful, it actually induces pleasure in group situations.
'Enduring discomfort together may bring people closer, especially when it's mixed with a bit of joy,' the study found.
Researchers in Australia, where it is currently winter, wanted to know why hundreds of strangers run naked into the Derwent River in Tasmania at sunrise for what is known as the Dark Mofo solstice swim, part of a wider arts and culture festival.
Over ten years of studies, researchers tracked those who took part. Dr Laura Ferris, a social psychologist from the University of Queensland, said: 'We surveyed people before and after taking the plunge and found a significant boost in feelings of connection after the swim.'
Cold water, hot food and horror films can all form part of what psychologists call 'benign masochism', Ferris said. 'Some of these experiences are painful but also enjoyable. Our findings suggest pleasure plays a significant role in why people might chase that feeling — and this helps us feel connected to others.'
Ferris's research has previously found that pain can activate opioids within the body that persist after the pain has worn off, leaving behind a pleasurable sensation.
'We hear a lot about 'trauma bonding' and how shared adversity brings people together, but our research showed something further,' she said. 'Pleasure, rather than pain, came up as the strongest predictor of whether participants in these events felt bonded with each other.'
The researchers also surveyed participants at a Dark Mofo artistic installation designed to splatter people with blood from an animal carcass, to the soundtrack of a loud 'dirge'. This experience was 'intentionally unpleasant' but was not 'physically painful', Ferris said.
'Of the two events, participants in the swim — although they likely experienced more physical pain — were significantly more likely to report pleasure and a stronger boost in social identification with their group,' Ferris added.
Those in the UK seeking to test the hypothesis are in luck. There are scores of naked swimming events organised this summer as part of the Great British Skinny Dip, a programme designed to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation and compiled by the British Naturism group.
'Thousands of people across the UK will be skinny dipping to raise money for the British Heart Foundation and experiencing the exhilaration of being naked,' British Naturism said. 'They will improve their mental and physical health and wellbeing, body confidence and reduce their stress. They'll also have great fun.'
