This article comes from a discussion between my friends and I. We discussed a lot of issues related to the internal causes of fetish. He gave me a rational and practical research idea, as if someone opened a window and I could see a larger landscape in the field of fetish. Thanks to him, special record. And had to introduce him.
Chris, an Chinese friend of mine, I met him many years ago during his school days. We will always discuss the content of the fetish field. He is an expert in the field of artificial intelligence and cognitive science, engaged in AI research in very large enterprises. I also lived in China for a period of time because of work, and I have to say that my Chinese friends without exception have strong wisdom. It makes people wonder whether God gave them all the wisdom (of course this is an exaggeration).
The connection between fetish and cognitive science is derived from small questions in daily fetish activities. When we enjoyed the happiness that fetish brought us, I thought of some questions:
Why are people obsessed with the beautiful luster like latex? Obsessed with being a puppy? Obsessed with high-heeled boots?
In the past, I have asked many friends in the fetish field, and the answers they gave were mostly subjective and self-aware. I can be sure that these answers are true, but none of them have a common theory, a more low-level abstract description of why we are obsessed with something or something.
Human cognition
Everyone has heard of the tragic brain in the tank. From a theoretical point of view, as human beings, we can only obtain information about the external environment through our existing sensors. Through the input of information from the external environment, we gradually form a cognition of self-awareness. The process of forming self-awareness can be regarded as the process of continuously receiving external environmental information stimulation. The exciting thing is that we can connect this process with human vision, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Before that, we need to interpolate a concept: excess stimulation.
Excessive stimulation
When Eve had eaten an apple, she couldn’t stand the dullness. This is a good description of excessive stimulation. Just like our various senses, for example, a little boy received a car model as a gift for the first time. His sight, touch and other senses received new stimulation and generated excitement. The combination of hormones made him feel happy. When he received more car models, this kind of happiness will not be stronger than the first time. What’s interesting is that various behaviors and obsessions with certain things in fetish are like the gradual accumulation of excessive stimulation in daily life.
Let’s go back to fetish and cognitive science. We observe related fetish behaviors from various senses. Of course, more often the excitement generated by our obsession with something comes from a mixture of multiple senses. Here we just discuss the more common proportion as a case study.
Visual
Whether it is latex or leather, people who are obsessed with them will always describe their charming luster to me. Yes, human genes determine that we are naturally more sensitive to high light. When we see the gloss of the alienated material, it will combine with other endogenous factors to produce excitement. It should be noted that it is not just sexual excitement.
Hearing
ASMR is no longer a difficult term. The sound of leather rubbing, the sound of stroking stockings. Obviously, some specific sounds, even though they exist in daily life, can also cause nerve excitement. Of course, sucking, chewing, rubbing, and flowing can all be sounds of any frequency that make different people produce different stimuli.
Tactile
Leather pants, latex bodysuit, raincoat, and gloves all provide good examples of tactility. Whether it is wearing a certain material or touching a certain material, our skin is very sensitive to touch and is the largest sensor. The stimulus signal it can provide is strong enough that the fetish behavior of a certain material occupies a large proportion in the entire fetish field.
Smell & taste
We can usually discuss smell and taste together, because the nasal cavity and the oral cavity are connected to each other, and these two senses are also the most likely to have sympathy. Obsessed with the smell of the soles of the feet, the smell of leather, and the smell of sweat. It fully shows that it is not necessarily anti-daily behavior that brings excitement. The sense of smell and touch also play a role in the physical level.
When Chris told me that there were no reliable conclusions about the study of the human perception system in the field of self-awareness, I was not surprised. This is his rigor from scholars. Of course, at my request, he gave some ideas that might exist. What is lovely is that he repeatedly emphasized that this is not a conclusion. I think it is a very good idea to use fetish behavior.
Self-awareness and self-cognition can be roughly described as our receptors constantly receiving information stimuli from the external environment, a black box processing information, and finally forming a constantly updated model. This model is simply defined as “I”.
I like this model. It can explain most of the behaviors in the field of fetish, such as becoming furniture and gradually giving up self-control. The reason for the excitement from this has no suitable answer before this. Now, I can think that the information stimulation in daily life is cut off or strengthened through behaviors, which results in excessive stimulation. Comprehensive factors make the hormones in the body excited.
This is not easy to understand, maybe a case can be used. Emily, another friend of mine, likes to fix herself in a small, dark box through bondage props. She considers herself to be an inanimate object, which makes her feel relaxed accompanied by a strong sense of pleasure. Does not need to stimulate the sex organs. I suggested that she try to put on a latex bodysuit for the game. Obviously, she gained greater excitement.
Due to space limitations, we cannot discuss more cases and more in-depth details. Of course, what chris and I discussed is not just such a small amount of information. But it needs to be emphasized again that this is a model, a possible analytical framework, and no conclusion has been reached.
Thanks again to chris, maybe I can start from this analysis framework and make satisfying fetish props.
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