Partialism
What is Partialism?
Partialism is a fetishistic behaviour characterized by sexual arousal by specific body parts
Official Criteria:
The diagnostic criteria of the DSM-IV-TR are that the individual has experienced intense sexual urges, arousal or behaviour involving specific body parts for at least six months. The individual must experience either personal distress over the behaviour and/or social or occupational impairment.
Manifestation:
Like most paraphilias, this particular fetish surfaces in early adolescence and will continue for most of the individual's active sex life. Individuals with partialistic fetishes use fantasies or touching of actual body parts for sexual arousal. Common fetish parts are breasts, legs, feet, hair (particularly red), ears, and toes. Less common fetishes include amputees and obese persons.
Prevalence:
It is difficult to assess the prevalence of fetishism in the general population. While Individuals may present on occasion for treatment or assessment at specialized sex-related clinic this is not generally the case and they carry out their fetishistic behaviour in private. The fetish, by itself, is usually not associated with criminal behaviour although it may combined with other paraphilias or disorders that result in criminal behaviour (eg sexual sadism).
Co-morbidity:
Most fetishists also have other paraphilias, most commonly tranvestic fetishism and sexual masochism and sexual sadism.
Treatment:
Few fetishists are really motivated to give up their means of sexual gratification and present for treatment. Of those who do. the combination of cognitive behavior therapy and medication would be recommended.
Further Reading:
Krafft-Ebing, R. von. (1965). Psychopathia sexualis. New York: Stein & Day. (Original work published in 1886)
Laws R. & O'Donohue, W. (eds) Sexual Deviance: Theory, Assessment and Treatment. New York: Guilford Press
Mason, Fiona L. Fetishism: Psychopathology and Treatment in Sexual Deviance. RD Laws & W.O'Donohue (eds), Guilford. NY
Junginger, John. Fetishism: Assessment and Treatmentin Sexual Deviance. RD Laws & W.O'Donohue (eds), Guilford. NY
Other Resources:
Therapy for Sexual Impulsivity: The Paraphilias and Paraphilia-Related Disorders. Martin Kafka, MD, Psychiatric Times (on-line)
© Stephen Hucker, MB,BS, FRCP(C), FRCPsych 2003,2004,2005
This material is provided for personal use only. Any other use is strictly forbidden without the express written permission of the author