Fetishism in Freud: Understanding Desire, Disavowal, and Psychological Defense
Sigmund Freud’s essay on fetishism offers a compelling insight into how human desire, fear, and psychological defense mechanisms shape sexual preferences. Freud approaches fetishism not merely as an abnormality but as a meaningful psychological response rooted in childhood experiences and unconscious conflicts. His analysis reveals how fetish objects function as substitutes, defenses, and symbolic markers of deeper psychological processes. Fetishism as a Psychological Phenomenon Freud begins by explaining that fetishism is often not experienced as a problem by those who possess it. Individuals with fetishes frequently view them as enhancements to their erotic life rather than symptoms of distress. Consequently, fetishism often appears in psychoanalysis as a secondary finding rather than the primary reason for seeking therapy. This challenges the assumption that fetishistic behavior is always pathological or harmful. This perspective reflects Freud’s broader psychoanalytic meth...