Partialism

For the view that God is composed of parts, see divine simplicity.

Partialism is a sexual fetish with an exclusive focus on a specific part of the body other than genitals.^[1][2][3] Partialism is categorized as a fetishistic disorder in the DSM-5 of the American Psychiatric Association only if it causes significant psychosocial distress for the person or has detrimental effects on important areas of their life. In the DSM-IV, it was considered a separate paraphilia (not otherwise specified), but was merged into fetishistic disorder by the DSM-5.^[1] Individuals who exhibit partialism sometimes describe the anatomy of interest to them as having equal or greater erotic attraction for them as do the genitals.^[4]

Armpits, backs, breasts, buttocks, navels, hair, hands, feet, legs, and lips are common partialisms.

Types

The following are some of the partialisms commonly found among people:^{[2][5][6][7][8]}

Formal name	Common name	Source of arousal
Podophilia	Foot fetish	Foot
Oculophilia	Eye fetish	Eye
Maschalagnia	Armpit fetish	Armpit
Retrophilia	Back/dorsum fetish	Back
Mazophilia	Breast fetish	Breast
Pygophilia	Buttock fetish	Buttock
Nasophilia	Nose fetish	Nose
Trichophilia	Hair fetish	Hair
Alvinophilia	Navel/belly button fetish	Navel
Alvinolagnia	Belly/stomach fetish	Belly
Cheirophilia	Hand fetish	Hand
Crurophilia	Leg fetish	Leg
Orisophilia	Lip fetish	Lip
Buccalagnia	Cheek fetish	Facial cheek
Erogonophilia	Dimple fetish	Dimple

See also

• Body worship
• Erogenous zone