Wanderlust Daily Trifle: Amputee fetishism

The World

Did you know acrotomophilia — from the Greek akron [extremity], tomein [to cut] and philein [to love] – was a condition in which a person is sexually aroused by the sight of an amputation?

The amputation usually involves of a whole arm or leg.

This isn't to be confused with apotemnophilia, which is a neurological disorder in which otherwise sane and rational individuals express a strong and specific desire for the amputation of a healthy limb or limbs.

When experienced very strongly, some people with apotemnophilia can feel discontented with their bodies and want to actually remove an otherwise healthy limb, a condition called body integrity identity disorder.

Apotemnophilia should not be confused with acrotomophilia, which is the erotic interest in people who actually are amputees.

For further study, there's a feature film concerning amputee fetishism: Boxing Helena.

It's directed by Jennifer Chambers Lynch, daughter of David Lynch.

Now you know.

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