Is Fetishism Hereditary?

[FingaDancer]

Hey, all,

As most of you already know, I have an extremely intense tickling/femfeet fetish....such a wonderful combination. I have been this way ever since I was four years old....who knows, maybe even before then. I was at a banquet in my Dad's honor just last night in Dallas and I sat at a table with one of his old neighbors from years ago. He used to always care for her pets while she was away and she would always bake him various goodies. He even fixed things for her around the house. She was a very nice woman and fairly decent-looking for a 72 year old. She seemed to have very dear feelings for my dad and as we ate we discussed some of his childhood escapades.

I was completely caught off guard and choked on my wine when she told me how he loved tickling her feet from age seven to seventeen. She mentioned how she was delighted at how much pleasured he seemed to get when he was on her feet. She said that he literally drove her insane and that he ruined several of her good stockings. She thought it was just the cutest thing and that she never got used to how much it tickled although he got after her hundreds of times. She was a widow and lost her son in an auto accident, so, to her, he was like a son. I sat in stark shock as I listened to her explain how during his high school years he would drop by her house a few times a week to eat her baking and that she was always barefoot and laughing by the time he left. THIS WAS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE REVELATION TO ME! I still haven't mentioned our discussion with my dad yet. How do you think he will react knowing that he passed the foottickling gene on to his dear little son? Anyone else have similar experiences with parents?

 

[sole seeker1]

An intriguing question, HW.

Personally, I would guess its more likely an environmental influence. Maybe during your formative years you observed your dad tickling your mom, and it became part of your sexual make-up.

I have no idea what caused my fascination for tickling feet, but I'm guessing that I had a relative who enjoyed tickling and it influenced me. I have no recolection of it, though.

I'd like to get some other people's thoughts on this. We've got some bright and insightful people here. Maybe between us we can figure it out. Even if we don't reach any firm conclusion - the discussion should be interesting!

 

[kibdos]

Probably environmental more than genetic

I would agree with Sole Seeker that environment plays more of a part. I grew up in close contact with two aunts (then in their twenties) who often went barefoot and I remember being entranced by tickling them when I was six or seven. I don't clearly remember any other tickling going on but it could well have happened and that sparked my own reaction.

This was reinforced by a girl across the street (she was in high school but, at my young age, she seemed like an adult) who always announced her presence at home by propping her bare feet up on the top of a couch that backed onto a picture window. I remember many afternoons watching those feet through binoculars. And then there were a couple of mothers of friends who often went without shoes and gave me many tickling fantasies until I got the nerve to act them out for real.

Yes - environment and continual reinforcement, that's what I think did it. Of course, if some dedicated scientist discovers a tickling gene then my theory can happily go out the window - preferably a window with a cute pair of bare feet in it.

By the way, H, do you think you would ask your Dad about your discovery?

 

[Snatch]

Complicated subject

How do you think he will react knowing that he passed the foottickling gene on to his dear little son? Anyone else have similar experiences with parents?

I don't think sexual preferences of any kind are linked to genetics. It's more how 'sole seeker' put it; "an environmental influence". This influence is at it's strongest, during a person's younger years when their sexuality is developing a 'personality', during this time they are some what undecided.
For example if you were brought up in a house where people were always being tickled and who proclaimed it was a sexual activity (Wierd example I know, couldn't think of anything better) that would have an effect on what you understood by the term 'sex'.

Maybe during your formative years you observed your dad tickling your mom, and it became part of your sexual make-up.

Experiencing this would psychologically link tickling to sex in your mind.

I remember the incident that first triggered my tickling fetish. It occured when I witnessed a girl (That I liked and always focussed by sexual thoughts towards) being tickled ruthlessly. For me, this created the link and I began to learn more about my new sexuality.

 

[FingaDancer]

Interesting observations, everyone. Listen, I also believe that tickling is more of an environmental influence, however, I do believe that some sort of genetic influence plays a small role as well. For instance, in addition to having a foot fetish, my dad was also physically abusive to my mom as well as a bit chauvanistic where women are concerned. I possess neither of those qualities; however, my brother, who never really knew my dad and never grew up under his influence, is both physically abusive to the women in his life and chauvanistic as well. He did not grow up in that environment at all...as a matter of fact, just the opposite is true. We always hung around our grandma, our aunts and our mom who always instilled in us the value of women and how women should be treated. (We tickled the shit outta their feet).

I don't have a violent bone in my body; however, the ruthless, "take no prisoners" style of tickling that I enjoy so very much and the screaming, begging, pleading and heavy breathing that it evokes could be akin to the domestic abuse experience, only in my mind, I know that I am not actually hurting the individual. Their responses are the same and the pleasure that I get from controlling a woman in this way somewhat parallel each other. My first experience of actually tickling a woman's feet occurred when I was four years old. I was in line at the grocery store when the woman in front of me dropped her shoe and started sliding it around in front of me. I can't explain my fascination, but I was drawn to this woman's active foot. I wanted to touch it, to feel it. When I reached down and swiped her sole I can recall the euphoria that I experienced when she shrieked and kicked her shoe to the front of the line. It was almost like I had special powers in that I produced that response from her with the touch of my fingers. The shriek and her "Oh, MY GOD" response was kinda like the sounds that my mom made when she was receiving a beat down; however, I didn't actually hurt her. What was it that drew me to this woman's foot like a magnet? There are thousands of fetishes out there: spanking, leather, underarms, nipples, sweat, etc. I've been privy to almost all of those at an early age, yet, the feet are what I was drawn to. Strange, huh? I believe that my environment played a huge role in my tickle fetish and I could have easily been an upperbody fan and gotten the same responses from a woman in order to simulate the control and produce the same screaming and shrieking effects......I, somehow, developed an INTENSE LOVE for a woman's feet; not just tickling, but eating and smelling as well. A woman's foot is like her entire body to me.

Sorry for the long message again, oh, and no, I have not talked to my dad about our mutual fetishes, but I plan to do so this weekend. I'll keep ya posted.

HWoods

 

[Snatch]

Coincidental or genetical?

in addition to having a foot fetish, my dad was also physically abusive to my mom as well as a bit chauvanistic where women are concerned. I possess neither of those qualities; however, my brother, who never really knew my dad and never grew up under his influence, is both physically abusive to the women in his life and chauvanistic as well.

Very interesting. I always believed personality played a huge part in sexual preference.
Although I thought someone's personality was determined by environmental influences, hence why many children take on similar personality traits to their parents; because they are growing up under their influence.
But since your brother never really knew your father; are his personality traits coincidental or is there a genetical link.

Does anyone know if personality traits can be inherited genetically?

Edit - Forgot to mention, good luck telling your father.

 

[tickletoes1]

I agree with woods

Well I'm the opposite of most of you and believe it's genetics by also seeing another person here whos discovered their parents are the same way. I was looking through his old high school and college yearbooks when I came across the question "what are you most happy about leaving school?"--or something like that. Anyways his answer was "discovering my foot fetish" which my foot fetish goes hand in hand with the tickling fetish I have, so I was basically in shock as well and am not really comfortable talking about it at all, but yes all in all I do think genetics have something to do with it (as even though your parents may not have had the gene themselves they could pass it on as a recessive and have it become dominant etc)

 

[Snatch]

'tickletoes'

Well I'm the opposite of most of you and believe it's genetics by also seeing another person here whos discovered their parents are the same way. I was looking through his old high school and college yearbooks when I came across the question "what are you most happy about leaving school?"--or something like that. Anyways his answer was "discovering my foot fetish" which my foot fetish goes hand in hand with the tickling fetish I have, so I was basically in shock as well and am not really comfortable talking about it at all, but yes all in all I do think genetics have something to do with it (as even though your parents may not have had the gene themselves they could pass it on as a recessive and have it become dominant etc)

I don't think it is possible for such a 'tickling gene' to exist in human biology. If it is genetics; then my theory is that certain personality traits have been passed down genetically. These personality traits could be best suited sexually to a tickling fetish or other domanent/torture type sexual preferences. As I said before; I believe personality has a huge impact on a person's sexuality.

I have noticed (By using member profiles), that both users who have found out about their parents 'secrets'; are male. Also both of these males found out that their fathers had the fetish.

This again could link to the environmental theory, as male children are far more likely to look up to their fathers as role models than their mothers. This is because they can relate with each other on far more levels, this in tern means the father has more influence over a male child and is likely to have more effect shaping their character.

This question is really bugging me in my mind now. Is there a psychologist on the board that could tell me whether or not personality traits can be inherited genetically?

 

[FingaDancer]

Very interesting article in this month's issue of either Time or Newsweek....I can't remember. It's about your make up "do genes or environment play a more active role in who you are?" Take a read.

HWoods

 

[FingaDancer]

Here's the link: "Nature vs. Nurture"

Here it is! http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101030602/story.html

 

[ticklemewet]

You have made a very good argument for heredity. I am a female and my dad would always tickle my mom's feet knowing she hated it and was really ticklish. He would also tickle my sister and I. It wasnt until later that I realized it was a sexual turn on. I seem to have inherited that from him and realize that it was a bigger influence then I ever thought.

 

[Snatch]

Thanks for the link 'HWoods'.
I was wondering, have you told your father yet?
If so, what was his response?

 

[ticklemewet]

Hi Johnathon,

To answer your question, no I have not said anything to my dad. Because of other circumstances, we are not speaking. Even if we were talking I would never broach the subject. My parents never talked about sex in anyway, and being a daughter, I know my dad would be very uncomfortable with the subject. Please feel free to email me if you want to talk about this in more depth. 😀

 

[Sugar_Ray]

This is somthing that i've wondered about for a while. For what it's worth, i think its an environmental thing, u know. I'm really into psychology as well as tickling, and i think that it has to do with early experiences.

For instance, now that i'm older, i look back on some of the childhood movies/cartoons i watched, and i'm suprised how much of them involve tickling or feet (ninja turtles, etc). I also was tickled lots by relatives and as i was a very inqizitive child (when i watched slapstick comedies i used to ask my parents why it was supposed to be funny when people got hurt) i seem to remember asking my parents why tickling made people laugh, why Don Turtelli tickled people to get them to talk.

 

[Sugar_Ray]

ooops, sorry, accidently posted before i was done typing

anyways, after hearing the awnsers to these questions, i made it my busness to tickle all the pretty girls in my neighbourhood, all my babysitters, all of my moms friends. i used to play games with girls in my neighbourhood where i tickled there bare feet with feathers. and i've been into tickling ever since. i hope this helps contribute to the community the awnsers to the questions we've all wondered about since as long as we can remember

peace out

 

[ticklemewet]

Your right Sugar_Ray but it goes even farther back then the Turtles. A good example was the Three Stooges. Not only did they employ alot of slapstick (hitting ect.) but there was also alot of tickling involved. I never thought they were funny myself but I know alot of people appreciated their humor.

 

[editorial10]

I dunno...

I don't know. I was adopted and my mom never really tickled me. i just naturally fell in love with the act. maybe it had something to do with the fact that it was a kind of weakness that everyone had, and as a small, somewhat scrawny bloke, i found that it was alluring to see someone vulnerable to a tickle attack.
however, i took a course in abnormal psychology, and there are signs that these things stem from childhood events. bob's your uncle...

 

[Snatch]

Everyone's coming up with pretty logical answers but I don't think we'll ever crack this one. If you read that link at the bottom of the first page of this thread; you will see, that not even the experts are fully sure.

There are eight psychological theories to explain why someone is what they are. I'm not sure what they all are, but I remember a few: 'Environmental', 'Genetical or Biological' and another is 'Early Experiences'.

There is evidence to support all of these claims, leaving opinion very varied.

I think the answer to 'HWoods' question will remain a mystery for now.

 

[TickleCrazy]

Re: Coincidental or genetical?

Does anyone know if personality traits can be inherited genetically?

My opinion is that yes, personality traits can be inherited. When I was a kid I was often asked if I had a twin. I didn't, but I found out why people thought so. I was in my teens when my dad, who had been adopted, found his birth family. I was introduced to my cousin. Everyone was astonished at how similar we were in looks, mannerisms, speaking style and general personality. For a while it was fascinating but it quickly got old. I saw in her many things about myself that I didn't like, and I sought to change them.

Now, this may be environmental/early experiences, or it may truly be hereditary: one of my sons is a major ticklephile. When he's older, I'm going to make him aware of how vital it is to his happiness that he chooses a sexual partner who shares his kink.

 

[RichardAuc]

Is Everything Hereditary

The problem I have w/the whole "is (fill-in-the-blank) hereditary" question is that it's commonly used to absolve people of responsibility. Alcoholics, pedophiles, drug users, serial killers, rapists & depressives use the whole "I can't help it--it's in my genes" argument to death. I'd really hate to see us lumped in w/them, especially when so many people already hate us for no good reason. It's a slippery slope from saying "fetishes are hereditary" to "fetishists can't help themselves."

Nowhere am I saying, however, that fetishism (or any other sexual preference) is a choice. People don't choose to like what we like--we just like what we like. Emotion, like so many of the brain's functions, is still a poorly understood concept at best. We know this: a newborn's susceptable mind absorbs a great many things, which aren't limited to what people deliberately teach it. Spend time w/a baby and you teach it things you don't even think about--ask any parent whose child repeats bad words its parents' shouldn't have said. It's also been demonstrated that prejudice is NOT genetic, but learned from experiences in each person's environment. (Good thing--else prejudice would be incurable. That which is learned can also be unlearned.)

As we all know, tickling is everywhere. People learn about it from their environment. Some like it, some don't. Ticklishness is certainly heredity, but a tickling fetish? I don't think so.

 

[heavenkitty1]

People learn about it from their environment. Some like it, some don't. Ticklishness is certainly heredity, but a tickling fetish? I don't think so.

I've always been of the opinion that things of this nature are learned from our environment too. I grew up in a physically undemonstrative household & sex was very taboo.

My brother used to tickle me to tears as a child but either he lost interest in it or didn't feel comfortable tickling me after I started 'blooming' into adulthood. Deep inside, I guess I've always liked tickling but it never 'came to the surface' until a few months ago.