Fetishism By: Kelci Boness Patrick Brafford Ashley Brewer Vanesha Bridges Kendrick Brown

Fetishism is a form of Paraphilia Paraphilias: recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors generally involving: 1) nonhuman objects 2) the suffering or humiliation of oneself or one’s partner, or 3) children or other nonconsenting persons, that occur over a period of at least 6 months (DSM- IV, 1994).

Types of Paraphilias  Exhibitionism  Fetishism  Frotteurism  Pedophilia  Sexual Masochism  Sexual Sadism  Transvestic Fetishism  Voyeurism

What is fetishism? Fetishism is defined as sexual fantasies, urges or behaviors that focus on nonliving objects, not including clothing for cross- dressing or devices such as vibrators that produce genital stimulation (DSM-IV, 1994).

Inanimate object fetishes are categorized in two types: form fetishes and media fetishes In a form fetish, it is the object and its shape that are important, such as in the case of high- heeled shoes. In a media fetish, it is the material out of which the object is made that is important, such as silk or leather.

The History of Fetishism  Sigmund Freud was the first to describe the concept and the activity of fetishism.  The term arose from fetishism, the general concept of an object having supernatural powers, or an object created by humans that has power over other humans.  In 1887, Freud described sexual fetishes in men as the result of childhood trauma regarding to castration anxiety (Sexual fetishism, 2003).

Diagnostic Criteria Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving the use of nonliving objects (e.g., female undergarments). The fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The fetish objects are not limited to articles of female clothing used in cross-dressing (as in Transvestic Fetishism) or devices designed for the purpose of tactile genital stimulation (e.g., a vibrator).

Theories of Causes  Some learning theorists believe that fetishism develops from early childhood experiences, in which an object was associated with a particularly powerful form of sexual arousal or gratification (Psychology Today, 2003).

Other theorists believe that it could be caused from an experience with masturbation as a young child-often one has been long forgotten-could develop into a fetish for an object that serves as a subconscious reminder (Nordenberg, 2003). Sociobiology explains fetishism in terms of material evidence with respect to evolution, genetics, and hormones.

Models of Fetishism Psychoanalytical models: centers on penis worship and castration. Behavioral models: a child who is the victim or observer of inappropriate sexual behaviors learn to imitate and is later reinforced for the behavior. Compensation models: individuals are deprived of normal social sexual contacts and thus seek gratification through less socially acceptable means.

Physiological models: focus on the relationship between hormones, behavior and the central nervous systems with a particular interest in the role of aggression and male sexual hormones (Psychology Today, 2003).

Treatment for Fetishism Treatment for fetishism includes: psychoanalysis, hypnosis, and behavior therapy techniques. Recently, drugs called antiandrogens lower testosterone levels. Men, also get treated with Depo-Provera or cyproterone acetate to decrease their testosterone levels (Psychology Today, 2003).

Types of Fetishes Foot fetish: Two men, Doug Gaines and Gary Brett started an organization for foot fetishes to give people an easy way to meet their solemates.

In 1985, the Foot Fraternity was formed for homosexuals only, and the Foot Fetishes and Fantasies Society (FFF) for the heterosexuals. Some types of form fetishes include boots, dresses, gloves, underwear, etc. They often have specific requirements, such as: the dress might have to be wet or slashed; the shoes, shiny or creaking.

The media fetishes can be divided into two types: hard and soft. Hard fetishes such as leather and rubber tend to be smooth, shiny, and black, and are “often tight constricting garments or shoes.” Soft fetishes are fluffy, frilly, or fuzzy. Examples include lingerie and fur (Steele, p. 26). There are many more types of fetishes, including the less common ones such as: fat, diapers, blood, and artificial limbs. Although, anything can become a fetish.

Works Cited American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Disorders, Fourth Edition. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, "Fetishism." Psychology Today. (). Retrieved < m "Knocking their socks off: foot fetishism." Psychology Today 26.4 (1993). Retrieved < web4.infotrac.galegroup.com.uncclc.coast.uncwil.edu/itw/infomark/891/808 /428 Nordenburg, Tamar. "Fetishism and Other Sexual Preferences." Sexual Health. (2002). Retrieved "Sexual fetishism." Wikipedia. (). Retrieved Steele, Valerie. Fetish: Fashion, Sex, & Power. New York: Oxford University Press Incorporated, 1996.