Objectum sexuality is an unusual psychological phenomenon in which an individual feels powerful affection toward a particular inanimate object – for all intents and purposes falling ‘in love’ with the object which may be a particular table, a train or a door.
In objectum sexuality the emphasis is not in fact on ‘sexuality’ at all (thus it is distinct from fetishism) as while the individual may be sexually attracted to the object, they also have strong feelings of love and commitment toward it. Generally those suffering with objectum sexuality believe the object to hold reciprocal feelings and to love them back, while in some extreme cases they may also find it difficult to understand ‘normal’ relationships between humans. Objectum sexuality can also be referred to as ‘object sexuality’ and those who experience the feelings may be referred to as ‘objectophiles’ or ‘OS people’.
Causes
The causes and mechanisms of objectum sexuality are not currently fully understood, but many existing insights of psychology may be used in order to explain the phenomenon, while some consistencies can also be noted between OS people.
In the popular documentary ‘Strange Love: Married to the Eiffel Tower’, two OS people are interviewed and filmed going about their daily lives. They are Erika La Tour Eiffel – who legally changed her name after ‘marrying’ the Eiffel tower, and ‘Amy Wolf’. Both women are Aspergic and both suffered a history of abuse.
Asperger’s syndrome is a mild form of autism, a developmental disorder that damages communication, emotion and the ability to empathize. This combination makes it difficult for sufferers to form emotional attachments or to understand the behavior of others – thus it seems like an appropriate fit that they may be more prone to developing objectum sexuality.
Psychological Theories
A psychodynamic explanation of objectum sexuality meanwhile might focus on defense mechanisms such as projection. Here the individual may have strong sexual or emotional feelings that they find difficult to come to terms with – perhaps through fear of becoming vulnerable to another person, or perhaps because the object of their affections is deemed inappropriate. As a result the unconscious mind attempts to protect the conscious part of the psyche from the reality by directing that love toward a harmless and ‘safe’ inanimate object.
Another possible explanation comes from behaviorism. Here it may be possible that the individual has developed an ‘association’ between the object and feelings of love and sexual arousal. This then is a ‘conditioned’ response that is reinforced each time they encounter the object and are similarly aroused. This could be the result of an orgasm, or other feeling of intense pleasure, in the vicinity of the object. In this sense comparisons can be drawn to fetishism, in which a sexual experience with another human is ‘enhanced’ by the presence of a certain stimuli (perhaps a shoe, an outfit or a risk of being caught). Similarities can also be drawn between objectum sexuality and the ‘transitional object’ that many infants attach themselves to in childhood.
Your choice of the words "suffers" and "suffering" is very close-minded and judgemental. If you bothered to educate yourself about these people, you would learn that many are content and satisfied with their relationships with objects. Humans aren't the sole nor superior source of love and companion, and not everyone is socially oriented towards other people.
To the previous comment,
Humans are designed to reproduce with other humans to continue the species. The sexual association with inanimate objects is counter to human sexual anatomy and therefore biological purpose. This is a clear disconnect between anatomy and mental perception; in other words, a mental disorder.
'Organism' should read 'orgasm' – otherwise I'd have scored a 5.
There is no law that human beings should reproduce, and besides human beings will always reproduce with or without the gays, lesbians, and objectophiles. So human beings are quite safe from becoming extinct. There are just not enough gays, lesbians, or objectophiles for all that. Also, I believe human beings should do what makes them happy for their own personal well-being.
It is true that the natural order reproduces, but the natural order has its flaws. If you expect it to be perfect I would expect you to go crazy.
This is absolutely sick. These people are suffering from severe mental illness. I can’t believe we normalize this sick behavior just so a few people can feel good about themselves. It’s disgusting and why mental institutions need to be brought back.
Most people are saying Humans will become extinct because of homosexuality or object sexuality can’t reproduce. Just think if there were no such flaws in one population, we humans have reached 8 billion long back, probably in Mohammad times. Because of these flaws.. we have able to survive till date. We will survive in future, if there is no third world war or asteroid hitting.
If you remember in your school days, the concept of Food chain where one animals will eat another. Why? Because to maintain stable population. Beyond humans, there is no one to eat us. So Mother Nature developed such flaws in order to maintain a stable population.
Just remember, we can’t go beyond mother nature.