Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 13, 2026

Partialism

Partialism is a sexual fetish with a focus on any other specific parts of the body other than the genitals. Partialism is categorized as a fetishistic disorder in the DSM-5 of the American Psychiatric Association only if it causes significant psychosocial distress for the person or has detrimental effects on important areas of their life. In the DSM-IV, it was considered a separate paraphilia, but was merged into fetishistic disorder by the DSM-5. Individuals who exhibit partialism sometimes describe the anatomy of interest to them as having equal or greater erotic attraction for them than do the genitals.

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Jul 13, 2026
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Partialism is a sexual fetish with a focus on any other specific parts of the body other than the genitals.123 Partialism is categorized as a fetishistic disorder in the DSM-5 of the American Psychiatric Association only if it causes significant psychosocial distress for the person or has detrimental effects on important areas of their life. In the DSM-IV, it was considered a separate paraphilia (not otherwise specified), but was merged into fetishistic disorder by the DSM-5.1 Individuals who exhibit partialism sometimes describe the anatomy of interest to them as having equal or greater erotic attraction for them than do the genitals.4

Types

The following are some of the partialisms commonly found among people:256789

Formal name Common name Source of arousal
Podophilia Foot/feet fetish Foot
Oculophilia Eye fetish Eye
Maschalagnia Armpits fetish Armpit
Retrophilia Back fetish Back
Mazophilia Breasts fetish Breast
Pygophilia Buttocks fetish Buttock
Nasophilia Nose fetish Nose
Trichophilia Hair fetish Hair
Alvinophilia Navel/belly button fetish Navel
Alvinolagnia Belly/stomach fetish Belly
Cheirophilia Hand/hands fetish Hand
Crurophilia Leg/legs fetish Leg
Orisophilia Lip/lips fetish Lip
Glossophilia Tongue fetish Tongue
Odontophilia Teeth fetish Teeth
Otophilia Ear/ears fetish Ear
Buccalagnia Cheek/cheeks fetish Facial cheek
Erogonophilia Dimple/dimples fetish Dimple
Caudaphilia Tail fetish Tail
See also

See also

References

References

  1. American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders American Psychiatric Association (5th ed.). Arlington: American Psychiatric Publishing. pp. 700–701. ISBN 978-0890425558.
  2. Edlin, Gordon; Golanty, Eric (2011). Human Sexuality: The Basics. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. ISBN 9780763736521. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  3. Milner, J. S., & Dopke, C. A. (1997). Paraphilia Not Otherwise Specified: Psychopathology and theory. In D. R. Laws and W. O'Donohue (Eds.), Sexual deviance: Theory, assessment, and treatment. New York: Guilford.
  4. Kunjukrishnan, R., Pawlak, A., & Varan, L R. (1988). The clinical and forensic psychiatric issues of retifism. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 33, 819–825.
  5. "Exploring those secret turn-ons - Get your freak on!". Jamaica-gleaner.com. 31 May 2008. Archived from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  6. Salassidis, Maria T. (21 December 2011). "Specific Body Part Fetish". dating chicago suburbs. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012.
  7. "ShoePlay Research". Legs and Heels (message board). 5 May 2004. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  8. Aggrawal, Anil (2009). Forensic and medico-legal aspects of sexual crimes and unusual sexual practices. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. p. 121. ISBN 978-1420043099. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  9. "Are ear orgasms real, and how can people stimulate the ears?".