Fetishism & Sexual Variance: A brief review
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This document discusses foot and shoe fetishes from a psychological perspective. It defines fetishism and different levels of fetishism intensity. It provides background on theorists like Freud who have studied fetishes. It discusses characteristics of those with paraphilic fetishes and specifics about foot and shoe fetishes. It notes fetishism is often seen as a male phenomenon related to performance anxiety and a way to ease anxiety about sexual acts.
Fetishism & Sexual Variance: A brief review
- 2. Warning Some of the images are pretty stark. These are shown only, to highlight the serious nature of the subject. The intention is not to shock, but to inform. If you are of a gentle persuasion or easily offended by nudity then please feel free to stop the powerpoint.
- 3. The erotic charms of feet and shoes The erotic charms of feet and shoes were found in many cultures from occidental to oriental. Foot loving dates to antiquity. The origins of sexualisation of the foot and shoe have been lost.
- 4. Fetishism Fetish derives from the Portuguese ‘feitiço’, and Latin ‘factitius’ (facere, to do or to make). Commonly used by French and German scholars in the 18th century to characterize the earliest stages in the evolution of religion. Alfred Binet (1857-1911) took fetish to describe a sexual variation in 1887.
- 5. Freud on Fetishism Freud described sexual fetish in men as a result of childhood trauma regarding castration anxiety. The fetish object became a token of triumph over the threat of castration and a protection against it.
- 6. Fetishism Fetishism appears to represent the anxiety of the sexual act with the fetish itself a lucky charm to transform the terrifying reality into something that transcends anxiety. Performance anxiety is a male fear and this according to Steele (1996) is one reason why fetishism is almost always a male preoccupation.
- 7. Peno- Centric Fetishism Adult fetishist is the inability to introduce the penis into the temple of doom (vagina) without a fetish to ease the way. Kaplan (1991)
- 8. Levels of Fetishism Level 1: Partialism (Stekel, 1964) Level 2: Low intensity fetishism Level 3: Moderate intensity fetishism Level 4: High level fetishism (Gebhartt, 1994)
- 9. Fetish Continuum (Normal Behaviour) Level 1: Partialism Not a true fetish but instead a liking towards. A mild preference for certain kinds of sexual partners, sexual stimuli or sexual activity. (Stekel, 1964) Popularity of foot sex has increased since the discovery of the HIV Virus
- 10. Fetish Continuum (Normal Behaviour) Level 2 Low Intensity Fetishism A strong preference exists to certain kinds of sexual partners, sexual stimuli or sexual activity. Normal sexual relationships continue but may incorporate the object of attraction in foreplay.
- 11. Fetish Continuum (Paraphilia) Level 3 Moderate Intensity Fetishism Specific stimuli are necessary for sexual arousal and sexual performance.
- 12. Fetish Continuum (Paraphilia) Level 4 High Level Fetishism Specific stimuli take the place of the sexual partner. (Gebhartt,1994)
- 13. Paraphilic and Paraphilic Type Behaviours Paraphilia describes abnormal digressive behaviour where sexual arousal and gratification depend on fantasising about and engaging in sexual behaviour that is atypical and extreme.
- 14. American Psychiatric Association Paraphiliacs have several behavioural characteristics in common. They are recurrent, fixed, compulsive, sexually motivated, and personally or socially maladaptive. These preoccupations interfere with capacity for reciprocal affection. To meet this definition these behaviours should have been an established pattern for no less than six months duration.
- 15. Classification of Paraphilic Type Behaviours Exhibitionism Fetishism Frotteurism Paedophilia Sexual Masochism Sexual Sadism Transvestic Fetishism Foot Fetishism is frequently cited as the most common paraphilia
- 16. Causes of Paraphilia Remains unknown, with many competing Theories, including: Early childhood experience which involves a psychological or psychosexual catalyst. A process of behavioural conditioning. Neurological Anomalies including imprinting Other reasons including sexual phobia, or impotence. Most often occurs with other paraphilic related behaviours
- 17. Profile of a Paraphilic Fetishist The Stereotype poorly developed social skills; quite isolated in their lives; and diminished capacity for establishing intimacy.
- 18. Object Fetish Form Fetish e.g. shape Media Fetish e.g. materials Fetishism is commonly associated with perversion involving a sexual association with an inanimate object like feet, shoes or the material that covers them.
- 19. Foot Fetishism Pronounced sexual interest in the lower limb or anything that covers portions of them. The allure normally attributed to erogenous zones is literally translocated downward and the fetishist response to the foot is the same as a conventional person's arousal at seeing genitals. Brame, Brame & Jacobs (1996)
- 20. Profile of a foot fetishist Stereotype Male, married, and otherwise normal. Feet, not shoes, are the sole focus of senual pleasure.
- 21. Nicholas Edme Restif (1734-1806) Shoe fetishists are called restifists or retifists. The term comes from the 18th century French writer and libertine Nicholas Edme Restif (1734 1806). He wrote under the nome de plume of Restif de la Bretonne. Restif had a strong sexual attraction to shoes.
- 22. Retifism : Shoe fetishism The shoe becomes the erogenous zone and the aroma of the shoe has powerful aphrodisiac properties. The delicate parts resemble the anatomy of genitalia. May not require the female owner to participate. Lovemaking incorporates all that would take place around genitalia. i.e. kissing, licking, biting and caressing.
- 23. Retifist Retifists may collect shoes and personalise their collection. Retifists may steal the shoes they are attracted to. i.e. kleptolagnia and hephephilia (Kiernan, 1917)
- 24. How was it for you? Fetishists experience intense sexual excitement and arousal from direct pedal lovemaking which takes place, either as a pre-coital activity or substitute for coitus itself. Most fetishists are relieved when partners accommodate foot loving into normal intimacies.
- 25. How many are there? There is no reliable data on the number of foot fetishists. Guesstimates are between one quarter to three quarters of one per cent of the total adult male population aged over 17. Ibrox Stadium
- 26. Sado-Masochism The combination of sadism and masochism, in particular the deriving of pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from inflicting or submitting to physical or emotional abuse. The Marquis De Sade (1740 - 1814) Leopold von Sacher- Masoch (1835-95)
- 27. Sado-Masochism
- 28. Footbinding
- 29. Obsessive Compulsion Shoe Collecting This behaviour is not thought to be paraphillic nor a fetish.
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