Certain Relationships Between Fetishism and Faulty Development of the Body Image

Fetishism is the result of a rather definite combination of genetic influences, in disturbances of pregenitality. These consist of (1) disturbances in the early months of life, producing instability in the formation of the body image, with uncertainty as to outline, and fluctuations in the subjective sense of size; and (2) complementary disturbances in the phallic phase, which produce an exaggeration of the castration complex. The genital area of the body image is under any circumstances less certain in the early months of life than other parts of the body except the face. Under normal developmental conditions, the genital area of the body image becomes consolidated during the phallic phase, due to the increase in the spontaneous endogenous sensations arising then. Under the disturbed conditions of pregenitality described, the overly strong castration anxiety is combined with body disintegration anxiety from the early phase, and depletes rather than reinforces the genital outlines of the body. These conditions also contribute to increase bisexuality and contribute to a corresponding split in the ego.

Due to the marked pathology of the first months, there is a persistence of the unusually strong primary identification (which in many cases has played a part also in confusing the genital part of body image). This persistent tendency to primary identification, especially through vision, again influences what happens with attempts at intercourse. Then the sight of the penislessness of the partner brings into focus the underlying feminine identification and makes genital performance impossible unless special support is offered.