Meetings of the Psychoanalytic Association of New York

DISCUSSION: Dr. I. Charles Kaufman commented that Dr. Dickes' paper made three main points: 1, the adult fetish is preceded developmentally by precursors; 2, the fetish represents more than merely the female phallus; and 3, parents contribute to the fetish formation. His study is thus ontogenetic, especially in the context of early object relations. Dr. Kaufman reviewed the contributions to early object relations of Lorenz, Harlow, Bowlby, Spitz, and Benjamin. The early fetish, or transitional object, is seen as a resolution of separation anxiety and, according to Glover, is excessively libidinized to counteract the object-directed hostility. This makes possible a continued relationship to the parent, essential to survival free of psychosis. The relation of the fetish to sexual excitement may result from the fact that the fetish replaces the mother as the agency for relief of tension. The developmental sequence described in this paper may be understood in relation to anxiety and ego activities: the adult fetish is an ego solution to castration anxiety; the early fetish is an ego solution to separation anxiety.

Dr. William P. Kapuler noted that Dr. Dickes has provided us with a new concept of fetishism and with new dimensions regarding its position in human development, giving us a partial insight into the meaning of the sexual act for fetishists. With these new images fetishism and fetishistic practices would appear to be more common, especially in women, than we had heretofore suspected. Recent articles on fetishism by Greenacre, Weissman, and Socarides, were discussed, as well as articles dealing with object relations and fetishism by Jacobson, and Ritvo and Solnit. Object love requires genital primacy and in the pervert orgasm is achieved by way of the preverted act. The aim of the sexual act in the pervert is pregenitally oriented; drive discharge is sought with