Fetishism

Fetishism is a type of paraphilia, a disorder that is characterized by recurrent intense sexual urges and sexually arousing fantasies generally involving: nonhuman objects; the suffering or humiliation of oneself or one's partner; or children or other nonconsenting persons. Fetishism involves the use of nonliving objects to gain sexual excitement. The most common fetishes are for body parts, such as feet, or for objects associated with the body, like shoes or underwear.

Definition

Fetishism is the sexual arousal a person receives from a physical object, or from a specific situation. The object or situation of interest is called the fetish; the person who has a fetish for that object/situation is a fetishist. A sexual fetish may be regarded as a non-pathological aid to sexual excitement, or as a mental disorder if it causes significant psychosocial distress for the person or has detrimental effects on important areas of their life.

Causes

The exact cause of fetishism is not known. It is believed to be caused by psychological factors, such as a person's experiences and environment. Some theories suggest that fetishism develops from early childhood experiences, in which an object was associated with a particularly powerful form of sexual arousal or gratification.

Treatment

Treatment for fetishism is generally only necessary if the fetish is causing distress for the person or if it's causing harm to others. Treatment typically involves psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, or a combination of these. The goal of treatment is to help the person manage their urges and to reduce any distress they may be experiencing.

See also

• Paraphilia
• Sexual fetishism
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Psychotherapy

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