Psychology of tickling?

[ticklor101]

During my run tonight my mind began to wander, and for some reason it came to rest on what I would consider the varying "degrees" of a tickling fetish. I don't frequently post on the site, but I would be very interested to hear from some other people on this idea.

Throughout my lurking I have noticed that there is quite a bit of difference with regard to how sexual a person finds tickling. It appears that some individuals purely enjoy tickling as a social behaviour, while others find it to be extremely erotic and a huge turn on (both as lees and lers). As somebody who recently graduated with a degree in psychology, my mind immediately jumps to the whole nature nurture debate, which I'm pretty sure there is already a thread for.

One thought that came to mind was that certain individuals are just more comfortable with their sexuality, and therefore are more apt to casually let it be known to those around them (extrovert vs. introvert?).

Anyways, I don't want to get into a giant rant, so i'll stop here.
Thoughts?

- Mitch

 

[3xPIN]

Get into a giant rant; that is what this is for.

As for being open about it: I don't share with people unless I let hints slip and they call me on it. I am not shy or ashamed, just bashful. Also, it is not something in which I feel many people would be interested. Knowing that it can make things awkward, but I am just not interested in my friends sexual endeavors and they aren't interested in mine.

Also, congratulations on your psychology degree. Good lick with that.

 

[rhiannon]

One thought that came to mind was that certain individuals are just more comfortable with their sexuality, and therefore are more apt to casually let it be known to those around them (extrovert vs. introvert?).

To be honest I don't completely understand the connection to tickling here. What are you trying to say? That actually everybody on here is turned on by tickling, but only the people who are comfortable with their sexuality will say so?

 

[PiedPiper]

I think that, psychologically speaking, tickling CAN touch a wide variety of bases,.... from innocent flirting to S&M power exchanges,... replete with BDSM regalia. It represents but ONE facet of well-established foot fetish sexuality,.. It can be either the means to an end,... or it can BE the end, itself.

 

[Myriads]

This is a very large question.

Tickling is at its base, a behavior.

As a behavior it is something that cannot be locked down as being based in one specific set of psychology or attitude. It will span many groups.

Tickling can be: A behavior that teaches children how to defend themselves, a bonding behavior between parents and children (touch interaction), a pre-sexual inter-gender exploring contact activity, A full on paraphilia, a form of sadism, a form of relaxation massage, a path to intimacy connectivity, and several more.

Each 'use' will operate under it's own rules and reasons. People will engage the behavior based on how they see it filling the end need they are focused upon.

With the sexual aspects of tickling, you'll see a spectrum. Some see it as a base action of arousal. It's connected to their deep sexuality. For others it's a playful bonding behavior that leads to greater intimacy in a relationship. It's not turning them on in itself, but setting up situations that are arousing. For others its a simple tool (For a sadist, or for a bondage player (I've seen riggers tickle their bound subjects to test the integrity of the ties) for others it's flirting/foreplay that leads up the turn on curve.

Each group will come here to the forum with a different goal, and often a lack of understanding of the other groups views on tickling. Some friction can happen.

But tickling is a very very diverse behavior, and you'll find a massive spectrum of things hiding under it's umbrella.

Myriads