On the Origin of Fetishes

I came across this video of Dr. Andrew Huberman discussing the causes behind foot fetishes (and fetishes in general), which I found very intriguing, as I've never stumbled upon this explanation before (as a person with a fetish, I've researched several explanations on the internet). Although the discussion was quite chaotic, due to the interruptions of the podcast hosts, I'll try to summarize the major points below in a logical order.

Arousal Template and Objectification

Dr. Huberman presents the idea of an "arousal template" that each person has, which refers to things that evoke sexual arousal to a varying degree. While for some people it can be broad and rich, for others it's narrow and specific. In a clinical sense, a fetish can be thought as a particular behavior that is heavily required for someone to get aroused. While for some people a fetish can be subtle and healthy, a clinical fetish can be problematic given the need for situations and people that can incorporate it systematically.

He also describes the fact that mating is a complex behavior of possibilities and negotiation, and emphasizes that sexual attraction is notably about partner objectification (at least during the initial phases of mating)

The Neurobiology of Fetishes

Ok, so we objectify our sexual partners, and some people have the tendency to focus on particular things during sex (body parts or behaviors). Why does a significant amount of population have these particular templates or arousal?

One of the hypotheses that Dr. Huberman provides for the case of feet fetish, is a relatively well known one. Sensory maps in the brain have shown higher sensitivity for specific areas of the body, such as genitals and feet, which happen to be located adjacently (increasing the probability of cross-talk). For example, people have been reported to stretch their toes during an orgasm (interestingly, people with an amputated foot have reported experiencing an orgasm in the phantom foot). Of course, this could explain why some people could be aroused by sensations in the feet, but in my opinion, not necessarily the full typical arousal template of a foot fetishist.

The other explanation, which can be applied more broadly about fetishes, was based on the observation that many classic fetishes, including feet, have the potential to be sites of infection (historically, this was true for feet). For example, people often have fetishes for bodily fluids (e.g. urine) or even feces.
In general, animal brains are wired in a way that we approach certain things as 'appetitive' (we want to smell or taste them) or 'aversive' (we want to avoid them, to avoid getting sick). People appear to develop fetishes, not to random objects, but to things which can create a sense of edginess. Although most people have an aversive response to feet, urine or feces, there might be a flip or 'miswiring' in those who find these things appetitive and sexually attractive. He also comments on the idea of being on such edge of expectation, as it happens with visual suggestions/hints (e.g. fetishes with clothing, which reveal part of the body)


Although he admits that we don't know the cause of such potential effect, I personally find this hypothesis very realistic and intuitive. I think there are several examples in psychology, where people associate risky behaviors with positive feelings. How this intertwines with sexuality, and why evolution kept such thing over centuries, is not clear.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on this, and any theories that could explain such flipping and miswiring.