Page:Fielding - Sex and the Love Life.pdf/59

 When an individual becomes so fixed with an obsession that his principal interest is concentrated on a certain part of the body, such as the foot, or hair or on some object that is associated with that part, such as the shoe or a garment, then it is recognized as a perverse condition, or fetichism.

The greatest amount of fetichism seems directed toward the hair, ankles, feet and breasts. It is common for fetichism to be focused on inanimate objects, such as handkerchiefs, shoes, stockings, petticoats and hair ornaments, which are suggestive of the parts of the body upon which these objects are worn.

In its relation to the love-life, true fetichism may be considered an erotic displacement in which the sex impulse is concentrated upon an object which has only indirectly an erotic significance. There is a fixation upon a symbol, instead of the normal reaction of sexual interest. It is said that many fetichists enter a business which gives them the maximum opportunity; thus, some becoming shoe salesmen to indulge their fancies to the utmost.

Anti-Fetiches. Objects or qualities which depress or destroy the erotic impulse may be called anti-fetiches. Any stimuli which cause an unpleasant reaction, such as obnoxious odors, a disagreeable tone of voice, an ugly feature of the face or figure, an awkward appearance, bad taste in dress, etc., are apt to adversely affect eroticism. Therefore, when one of the opposite sex by any of these means arouses disgust, the anti-fetich paralyzes the sexual appetite, and even a symbol of the objectionable object may cool love.

Exhibitionism. In commenting upon the sexuality of young children, reference was made to their delight in observing and showing their nude bodies. This is a normal state of early childhood emotional development, and is normally