The sensory regions for the feet and genitals lie next to each other, as shown in this cortical homunculus. Fetishism usually becomes evident during puberty, and may develop prior to that. No single cause for fetishism has been conclusively established. Some explanations invoke classical conditioning. In several experiments, men have been conditioned to show arousal to stimuli like boots, geometric shapes or penny jars by pairing these cues with conventional erotica. According to John Bancroft, conditioning alone cannot explain fetishism, because it does not result in fetishism for most people. He suggests that conditioning combines with some other factor, such as an abnormality in the<unk>  learning process. Theories of<unk>  imprinting propose that humans learn to recognize<unk> ly desirable features and activities during childhood. Fetishism could result when a child is imprinted with an overly narrow or incorrect concept of a sex object. Imprinting seems to occur during the child's earliest experiences with arousal and desire, and is based on "an egocentric evaluation of salient reward- or pleasure-related characteristics that differ from one individual to another." Neurological differences may play a role in some cases. Vilayanur S. Ramachandran observed that the region processing sensory input from the feet lies immediately next to the region processing genital stimulation, and suggested an accidental link between these regions could explain the prevalence of foot fetishism. In one unusual case, an anterior temporal lobectomy relieved an epileptic man's fetish for safety pins. Various explanations have been put forth for the rarity of female fetishists. Most fetishes are visual in nature, and males are thought to be more<unk> ly sensitive to visual stimuli. Roy Baumeister suggests that male<unk> ity is unchangeable, except for a brief period in childhood during which fetishism could become established, while female<unk> ity is fluid throughout life.
Sexual fetishism
Transvestic fetishism
Botanical sexism
Self-cannibalism
Electronic harassment
Lateral violence
Neglect
Pharmacological torture