Understanding Fetish Disorder And How One Can Experience It

Illustration (Unsplash / Artem Lbunsky)

JAKARTA - The name Gilang has become trending on Twitter because the @m_fikris account said that he was sexually harassed and had an unusual fetish : wrapping his victim in a cloth. Having a fetish is arguably common. But on a certain level, it can turn into a disorder called a fetish disorder.

Summarizing Psychology Today, the term fetish comes from the Portuguese word feitico , which means obsessive charm. Those with fetishes find non-genital body parts or even certain inanimate objects very attractive to arouse sexual arousal.

Having a fetish is actually natural in human sexuality. However, excess obsession with the fetish can cause abnormalities when it interferes with normal sexual or social functioning or when sexual arousal does not arise without the object.

It is also called a fetish disorder or fetish disorder. In the general category of fetish disorder, it includes paraphilia disorders, which is a problem related to the control of sexual fantasies and behavior that involves certain objects, activities and unusual situations.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, DSM-5, fetish disorder is characterized as a condition of continuous or repeated dependence on non-living objects (such as underwear or high heels), or focusing on specific non-genital body parts such as feet to get sexual arousal. . So that only for this object a person with fetish disorder gets sexual satisfaction.

Because fetishes occur in many people, a diagnosis of fetish abnormalities is only given if there is personal pressure that is felt or really interferes with social life, work or other important aspects as a result of the fetish . Those who do not report a clinical problem will not be considered to have the disorder.

The most common items for fetishes include underwear, sandals, gloves, rubber goods and leather clothing. Meanwhile, the most part of the non-genital body is used as a fantasy, namely the feet, toes and hair.

Mostly to achieve sexual arousal, people who have a certain fetish usually hold, rub, taste or smell objects or body parts that trigger it. But for some people there are also those who already feel aroused just by looking at the image of the object.

Meanwhile, according to the DSM-5, more men suffer from fetish disorders than women. In fact, the symptom appears almost exclusively in men.

Fetal symptoms and causes

According to the DSM-5, there are three characteristics of a person experiencing fetish disorder. First, for a period of at least six months, the person with this disorder has repeatedly and intensely arousing fantasies, urges or behaviors involving non-living objects or focusing on non-genital parts of the body.

Then secondly, someone with this disorder will also experience problems in their social, work and personal life due to sexual fantasies and urges towards the fetish they have. Then the last characteristic is that he has a fetish object with objects or clothes that are not usually used to stimulate the genital area. Then what exactly makes a person have fetishes?

Some believe the fetish in a person can be seen since puberty. Those who argue that fetishes can still develop before adolescence.

Furthermore, some experts believe that fetishes develop from an early age. Where an object is associated with a very strong form of sexual arousal or gratification.

The behavioral analysis model reveals that a child who is victimized or exposed to inappropriate sexual behavior can imitate that behavior. In turn, he will be hooked on having a fetish for that particular object of his experience.

Meanwhile, when looking from the compensation model, it shows that fetish "worshipers" may have lost normal sexual contact. Therefore he seeks satisfaction in ways that are less socially acceptable.

Whereas in the case of men, some experts argue that fetish abnormalities may arise from doubts about masculinity, potency, or fear of rejection and humiliation from others. In other words he was afraid of being put down by others. So that by exercising control over inanimate objects, a person can protect himself or compensate for his feelings of inadequacy.