Does anyone have any medical or psychological research or reasoning behind the cause of foot fetishes?

What might having an obsession with feet mean?

Does anyone have any medical or psychological research or reasoning behind the cause of foot fetishes?
One explanation, advanced by neurologist Vilayanur S. Ramachandran, highlights the fact that the feet and the genitals occupy adjacent areas of the somatosensory cortex, possibly entailing some neural crosstalk between the two. Similarly, Reflexology is the practice of stimulating points on the feet to process this crosstalk.





A somewhat more Freudian hypothesis is that in many cultures, an infant's experience of its mother may involve crawling around her feet. If sexual/behavioral imprinting occurs during this time, this might lead to the feet becoming the primary object of sexual arousal. The human brain somehow attributes the feet to hold sexual properties according to Freud.





Another theory is that the shape of the human foot is visually similar to that of the curves and cleavage found on the body of the human female, particularly the female hips and buttocks. The average foot is composed almost entirely of curves; the top of the foot, the tips and bottoms of the toes, balls of the toes, instep, heel, ankle, soles, and toenails are often all curved, making the foot one of the curviest parts of the human body. In much the same way that breasts, buttocks, or hips are often considered attractive because of their curves, so too can the foot be regarded as an object of sexual desire. This would explain why so many foot fetishists are aroused by watching a barefoot girl with dirty soles, as the dust highlights the curves, the shape of the female feet by leaving only the arches clean.





Yet another theory proposes that visually, the feet and genitals and breast occupy the same space within the sexual visual field and the male, during coitus (missionary) utilize this 'sexual trigger' to enhance reproduction. Some males may be genetically brain imprinted to find parts of the body within that field as erotic. The female face, breast, legs and feet can all be seen during lovemaking in this position.





Another possible theory behind foot-fetishism could be rooted in the idea that a persons feet are usually hidden, much in the same manner as genitalia or a woman's breasts. Suddenly exposed feet could hypothetically produce a feeling of pleasure in the same way that exposed breasts could. A female, in the initial stages of undress for a romantic encounter, usually removes her shoes first. Perhaps launching a visually erotic chain reaction, allowing the male to perform during reproduction.





Another possible theory is that it is a part of the body that has an odor. Feet have many sweat glands which produce (theoretically) the same pheromones (chemical signals) which are produced by genitalia. Therefore they both invoke sexual arousal in the opposite sex.





Still another theory is that some men (not all) who adore feet are submissive to women. This would imply that the male is NOT a true 'fetishist' and is aroused, rather, by simply his humiliating role in the relationship. On the other hand there is another look on the domination which is attributed to a foot fetishist (interepreted in Jungian and Adler manner). Legs serve as a support for a body. A human is strong when he stands on both feet. Foot fetishist can reach soles of other person only by changing persons position to submissive and weak. Thus foot fetishist expresses his superiority feelings by controlling other person.
Reply:Whoa.. I've heard that around the foot area there's this nerve that has something to do with sexual feelings. Can't exactely remember though.
Reply:it might mean that the person in question got kicked a lot as a child and really enjoyed it
Reply:have had a serious foot fetish since about the 4th grade if i can remember correctly. i know my sister has a show fetish and use to tease me about feet when i was little, really little. i think that had something to do with where it came from with me. im into almost all aspects of foot fetish besides the weird stuff like kicking and crap. if u ask me its so sensual and forplay like. women get great pleasure and satisfaction from it. it can go anywhere from a sensual foot massage to footjobs. its all tied together. but the women has to be open about her feet and has to have nice sexy feet. im not into all feet. just sexy female feet that are not hobbit looking. i generally do not like short stubby sausage like toes, huge turn off for me. long slender toes, with a nice high arch, soft soles and tan feet and the best.
Reply:Lots of theories and no answers. Perhaps congenital.
Reply:this isn't research based, but from my reading about Chinese foot binding, I know part of the interest for men who admired bound feet was that the resulting shape reminded them of their male "member." So maybe the relation of the foot to a phallic shape on a subconscious level is to blame.
Reply:well scientist arent 100% sure but in the middle of the brain is were we get the signal to be aroused and its also were we process signals from our eyes etc. they think that some how signal get crossed and thats why we find them attractive.i personally hate ugly girl feet and i cant stand guy feet altogether.