Learn More About Fetishism

A. 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).

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).

D. The individual must feel personal distress about their interest, not merely distress resulting from society’s disapproval;

OR

have a sexual desire or behavior that involves another person’s psychological distress, injury, or death, or a desire for sexual behaviors involving unwilling persons or persons unable to give legal consent.

This diagnosis is part of a family of diagnoses called paraphilias. The key to identifying a paraphilic disorder is in the last 2 sections of the diagnostic criteria. To qualify as having any type of paraphilia, regardless of the specific sexual preferences or desires, one must feel personal distress about their interest that is different than distress that is due to society’s disapproval, or that the sexual desire would harm someone else physically or psychologically.

It is important to not the difference between feeling distress because society, family, friends or others don’t approve of the sexual thoughts, feelings or behaviors, and feeling distress about it on a personal level separate from the opinions of others.

With fetishism, the feelings of distress come from recurrent, intense urges, fantasies or behaviors that involve the use of nonliving objects to reach sexual fulfillment.

The exact cause of paraphilias is unknown for sure

The following are a list of possible factors that cause conduct disorder:

• Childhood abuse
• Traumatic experiences
• Previous sexual experiences that have conditioned a sexual response
• Biological factors during brain development
• Chemical imbalances

• Psychotherapy
• Medication from your primary care physician can help to control symptoms of paraphilia but are not considered a cure.
• For best results, a combination of medication and psychotherapy is recommended.
• Self Help (Try Our Self Help Program)
• Working with Our Coaches