Paraphilic infantilism. The analysis of selected cases presented in media with reference to the etiological hypotheses
Paraphilic infantilism. The analysis of selected cases presented in media with reference to the etiological hypotheses

Summary/Abstract: Paraphilic infantilism is characterized by the presence of sexual arousal when playing childhood roles and/or using diapers. The aim of the paper is to present the characteristics of behaviors related to paraphilic infantilism based on cases reported in mass media, as well as to introduce selected etiological hypotheses of these behaviors. Scientific literature describes a few cases of persons playing childhood roles and having sexual fantasies about these behaviors. In mass media, an incomparably greater material can be found, indirectly demonstrating that paraphilic infantilism is not limited to individual cases. As it is the case with other paraphilias, no etiological hypotheses for paraphilic infantilism have found empirical support. The hypotheses include the psychodynamic hypothesis, claiming that paraphilic infantilism results from regression due to a trauma in the early childhood, the theory of erotic target location error, indicating that paraphilic infantilism is characterized by erotic fantasies directed towards oneself, and not towards a sexual partner, and a hypothesis referring to the relationship between paraphilic infantilism and sadomasochism. The behaviors related to the paraphilic infantilism and its etiology appear to be an important research subject. In spite of abundant indirect evidence of the high prevalence of these behaviors, the topic has not been the subject of thorough scientific research.

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