FETISHES

Keara Brown
=**FETISHES**=

** Overview **
The term "fetishism" originated from the Portuguese word // feitico //, which means "obsessive fascination". (Psychology Today, 2005) Fetishism was introduced as a psychological scientific term in 1887 by Alfred Binet. ( Grachev, 2006) The term "fetish"comes from "fetishism" and was used to describe religious relics found in tribal cultures by the Old World Portuguese explorers. Fetishism in anthropologic contexts refers to the ancient belief that godly powers can inhere in inanimate things. (Felluga, 2011) In its original anthropological context, a fetish was any religious artifact which tribal peoples believed had magical powers. (Brame, 2006) Fetishism is the idea of an object having supernatural powers or powers over other human being. Sigmund Freud was the first to describe the concept and activities of //Sexual// Fetishism. In 1927, Freud suggested that fetishism was the result of a psychological trauma, the trauma of a female lacking a penis; according to Freud, "fetishes are unconscious elements and are concrete forms of unconscious fantasies" (Lowenstein, 2002) and occurs "almost exclusively" among men; theorists in the late 20th century began to challenge this notion.

** Definition **
Fetishism is defined as sexual fantasies, urges and/or behaviors that focus on inanimate objects to provide sexual stimulation, excluding cross-dressing and objects specially designed for sexual use. (Psychology Today, 2005).Fetishism is a condition in which inanimate objects are used as the exclusive or consistently preferred method of stimulating sexual arousal. (Lowenstein, 2002) Fetishism is a form of paraphilia; paraphilia is a "defined by [|//DSM-IV//]//,// are [|sexual impulse disorders] characterized by intensely arousing, recurrent sexual fantasies, urges and behaviors (of at least six months' duration) that are considered deviant with respect to cultural norms and that produce clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of psychosocial functioning" (Kafka, 2006) Sexual fetishes are anything that deviants from the cultural sexual norms and produces distress in psychosocial functioning. According to Ellen (1988), there are three main scholarly practices which use a concept of fetishism:  1. Anthropological (specifically, intellectualist-evolutionist): in which an object is believed to be a spiritual force in itself: the result of malthought;  2. Marxist: in which an object takes on a fixed quality that conceals its true economic function: the result of mystification;  3. Psychological: in which a part (or an associated artefact) replaces the whole as an object of-usually sexual-desire: the result of repression or 'disavowal'. Fetishists are only able to obtain sexual gratification through touching the objects (i.e. holding, rubbing, smelling) or asking their partner to wear the object during sex; some frequently used objects include: undergarments, high-heeled shoes and non-genital body parts (i.e. hands or feet).

** Theories of Causes **
Where there is a pathological assignment of sexual fixation, fantasies or behaviors toward an inanimate object, fetishism is characterized as a disorder. (Psychology Today, 2005) Fetishism is usually a male disorder (Kafka, 1996); nearly all fetishists are male, though some women practice fetishism. [|Paraphilias] are predominantly male sexuality disorders with an estimated sex differences ratio of 20:1 in sexual masochism (Kafka, 1996). According to Marucco (1997), fetishes resolve from an Oedipus complex and fear of castration. Mothers play an important role within the male's life, "serving as fetish objects". Such feelings originated in early traumas related to the mother (Carignan, 1999), thus males tend to have a greater need for fetishes than females. Fetishes surfaces in early adolescence and will continue for most of the individual's active sex life (Hucker, 2005) Some theorists believe that fetishism develops from early childhood experiences, in which an object was associated with a powerful form of sexual arousal or gratification (Psychology Today, 2005), resulting from an experience at an early age with masturbation that could result into a fetish for an object that serves as a subconscious reminder; while other theorists focus on later childhood and adolescence. Studies have shown that fetishists have poorly developed social skills, are isolated within their lives and are less capable of establishing intimacy with others; fetishists tend to be less socially attractive to those around them. Fetishism is frequently kept secret by individuals. "Fetishists are usually shy and socially withdrawn. They may well be ashamed of their dependence on their particular fetish, and hence attempt to keep their fetish secret."(Lowenstein, 2002) Though some fetishes are socially acceptable in society, sexual fetishists may fear the stigma associated with fetishism; when an individual's paraphilic behavior is revealed, social stigmatization usually occurs. People with these disorders have usually become secretive, devious, or isolate themselves with their own distress. (Greenberg& Bradford, 1997) Fetishists tend to practice their fetishistic behavior in private. According to Hucker (2005), though some individuals may seek on occasion for treatment or assessment at specialized sex-related clinic, this isn't generally the case. Fetishism goes beyond sex, people with fetishes experience emotional and spiritual stimulation in response to their particular fetish object, �some fetishists long to worship their fetish, and may even feel more psychically connected to their fetish objects than to other people�(Brame, 2006) ; inanimate object fetishists often collect their fetish object of favor.

** Types of Fetishes **
Inanimate object fetishes can be categorized into two types: //form fetishes// and //media fetishes.//  **// Form fetish //** : the object and the shape of the object are of importance, (i.e. high-heeled shoes)  **// Media fetish //** : the material of the object is important, (i.e. silk, latex, and leather). The media fetishes can be divided into two types: //hard// and //soft//.  n ** Hard fetishes ** are smooth and shiny (i.e. leather, plastic, rubber etc.)  n ** Soft fetishes ** are fluffy, frilly, or fuzzy (i.e. lingerie and fur etc.) (Steele, 2006)

** Common Fetishes **

 * Breast fetishism
 * Corset fetishism (Tight lacing)
 * Foot fetishism
 * Food fetishism
 * Furry fetishism/Toonophilia
 * Glove fetishism
 * Infantilism
 * Leather fetishism
 * Pregnancy fetishism
 * Rubber fetishism
 * Boot fetishism
 * Latex fetishism
 * Spandex fetishism
 * Stocking fetishism
 * Tickling fetishism
 * Transvestic fetishism
 * Belly button fetishism

** Diagnostic Criteria **
Kafka (2009) states, "in the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition), Fetishism was operationally defined as:  A. Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving the use of non-living objects (e.g., female undergarments).   B. The fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.   C. 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)."

** Treatment **
Fetishists have been known to be resistant to psychological treatment. (P. R. Kilmann et al, 1982) and paraphilic disorders have received limited attention of mental health professionals in comparison to other diagnoses (Becker, 1995). Most physicians fail to address adequately the utilization of drug treatment for fetishists. Physicians find fetishism less prevalent compared to other disorders. Despite positive results, psychopharmacological treatments in general have not been adequately utilized in the treatment of these disorders. (Greenberg & Bradford, 1997)

**References**
American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th Ed). Washington, DC: Author   Brame, Gloria G. "Fetishes: History and Practice." //Sexual Health Network - Credentialed Experts Providing Sexuality Education from Pleasure and Orgasm to Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Sexual Dysfunction, and Sex and Disability//. 28 Apr. 2006. Web. 10 Apr. 2011. []. Carignan, L. The secret: Study of a perverse transference. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis.1999 Oct: Vol 80(5): 909�928. Ellen, Roy. "Fetishism." //New Series// 23.2 (1988): 213-35. //JSTOR//. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. []   Felluga, Dino. "Modules on Marx: On Fetishism." //Introductory Guide to Critical Theory//. 31 Jan. 2011. Purdue U. 11 Apr 2011. [] "Fetishism | Psychology Today." //Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness Find a Therapist//. 13 Mar. 2009. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. []. Greenberg, David M., and John M. W. Bradford. "Treatment of the Paraphilic Disorders: A Review of the Role of the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors." //Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment// 9.4 (1997). Plcnum Publishing Corporation, 1997. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. [] Hucker, Stephen J. "Fetishism." Forensic Psychaitry.ca. Inclusive ForensicPsychiatry.ca, 2005. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. []. Kafka, Martin P. "Therapy for Sexual Impulsivity: The Paraphilias and Paraphilia-Related Disorders - Psychiatric Times." //Psychiatrictimes.com//. 1 June 1996. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. < [] > Kafka, Marvin P. "The DSM Diagnostic Criteria for Fetishism." //American Psychiatric Association// (2009). Web. 11 Apr. 2011. []. Lowenstein, L. F. "Fetishes and Their Associated Behavior." //Sexuality and Disability// 20.2 (2001). //SpringerLink.com//. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. []. Marucco, N C. The Oedipus complex, castration and the fetish: A revision of the psychoanalytic theory of sexuality. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis. 1997 Apr; Vol 78(2): 351-355. Kilmann, Peter R., Robert F. Sabalis, Milton L. Gearing, Lee H. Bukstel, and Albert W. Scovern. "The Treatment of Sexual Paraphilias: A Review of the Outcome Research." //The Journal of Sex Research// 18.3 (1982): 193-252. //JSTOR//. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. []. "Sexual Fetishism: a Sexual Physic Disorder or Harmless Fixation? - English Pravda.ru." //English Pravda.ru: Russian News and Analysis//. Trans. Guerman Grachev. 30 Oct. 2006. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. . Steele, Valerie. __Fetish: Fashion, Sex, & Power__. New York: Oxford University Press Incorporated, 1996