We don't really talk about fetishes openly with our parents or our kids, so what are the odds that they have the same kink we do and it's passed down genetically? We'd never really know. Maybe I've been playing too much Assassin's Creed. Lol.

I believe so, yes. Even though I am MudMadPhil my Son has a serious Wet Fetish since he was a teen.

Linkage of genes with specific behaviors is always tenuous/problematic...especially the 'one gene = one trait' notion...usually, it's multiple genes providing conditional 'influence' on a (behavioral) trait's appearance depending on the environment [the 'G x E' effect]...that said, there IS strong evidence for a genetic basis for some obsessive-compulsive disorders (like 'trich'), and, since there is a decided OC component to most fetishes...the possibility is real (though, if you were to do a gene/DNA profile of every wam fetishist, you would no doubt find a different gene expression profile for each; with maybe certain key gene sequences appearing more often than others).

It seems unlikely for individual fetishes to have a genetic component given that formative experiences so often affect them. I could understand if some individuals were more predisposed than others towards developing fetishes in general, with their experiences influencing which ones.

I don't think it is genetic; but more your surroundings. Who you meet and live with? One can influence the other and their mental attitude. My son and daughter were both brought up as naturists; but their partners and friends in business were not, so they are not naturists; but not to the extent of being prudish as some of their friends obviously are. It's a bit like dialect, if you work in an environment that talk in a local dialect, you will fall in to speak as they do. If they are public school educated, then they will speak with a public, upper class accent.

'more your environment' does not mean zero genetic influence...genes (and their polygenic traits that they generate) are always in the background of everything we do and become. Nurture shapes nature, to be sure, but never usurps it, entirely.

As a (bummer) comparison, there is much one can do to reduce your chance of developing cancer, however, if you have one of the 'unlucky' DNA profiles (a 35% chance on average) ...you will get some form of cancer (even with no cancer in your family history).

One way to view it is that certain genes confer a 'predisposed susceptibility' to fetishism...and then, all it takes is the right type of parental or environmental influence (the nurture' part', good or bad) to activate the susceptible behavior (here fetishistic) ...and then this itself can (to differing degrees) feedback with the obsessive - compulsive gene(s) to produce an escalation in the fetishistic behavior (which could be sociopathic [serial killer], or, relatively benign [wam fetish]).

Agree with Wamajama.

My opinion only, but I don't think it's purely down to external influences, but a set of parameters which could be genetic (hereditary) which determine your susceptibility to developing a fetish of some description. I expect the exact focus of the fetish may be externally influenced.

Many folks on these forums state that they have had their fetish for as long as they can remember (myself included). It seems that at about age 3-4, there is a 'window' of primal sexual development during which sexual preference can be influenced by external factors. It might explain why certain individuals are attracted to particular sensations, experiences, or even genders (binding the notion that a true fetish is as inescapable as the 'predetermination' whether you are straight or gay). Perhaps for some of us, that window occurred while we were watching messy shows on TV - who knows?

As a parent of two children, I wonder what they may have been exposed to during their particular 'window', having picked up from me the disposition to acquire some kind of fetish. What will their kink be? I expect I'll never know.

People with genes: some have fetishes
People without genes: literally just a pile of DNA-less biological matter without the ability to produce the proteins used in the brain that can register sexual fetishes.

Therefore genes cause fetishes.

Yes, absolutely correct. I think the term that is meant by "genetic" is best read as "hereditary".

This the age old, unanswerable question.
From day one of life, our hereditary traits develop within an environment, which in early years is often that which is provided by our biological parents.
Then we gradually become subject to wider influences.
But on the point of fetishes.
I've often wondered if WAM is related to sexual inhibition.
As Labyrinth rightly said, it goes back as long as we can remember.
I was brought up in a strict, religious household where sex was unmentioned.
Any references on TV etc were blocked.
It was too embarrassing to mention.
I've often wondered if, when the naked body was given this prohibition, if a fetish developed partly in place of that.
If I see two models, one topless and one in a wet top, I'd look at the one in the wet top!
Thanks for the interesting posts here.

There's a lot to unpack here.

What do you mean by genetic? That a specific fetish is hardwired? That's, unlike.

That there may be a series of genetic influences which predispose an individual to developing a fetish, but no any specific one? That's more reasonable.

I think fetishes are culturally relevant, so before the invention of mass visual communication, the possibility of someone developing this specific fetish is unlikely.

"Anything under the sun can be a fetish, including the sun itself." I've read a book about sexual fetishes, and some of the documented fetishes mentioned are just puzzling and/or mind blowing, like boots, amputees, tiny insects, or listening to someone stutter in a misty fog.

There's a hypothesis about how fetishes develop in childhood, but it only concerns boys. Girls are left unexamined.

Earlier someone mentioned it being linked with OCD. This is a chicken and egg problem, as having a fetish does create anxiety in the individual, and OCD is an anxiety based illness. Is the fetish causing the OCD, or is the fetish a manifestation of OCD symptoms?

'Fetish genes' (i.e., genes that are commonly up-regulated in neurons involved with general sexual arousal behaviors) and OCD genes may 'cluster' together (where you find one, there' s a high probability of finding the other)...but again, genes confer the propensity or susceptibility for a behavior (the structural bases or mold)...environment 'fills in the blanks'.

Sometimes i think its possible but i dont know ive been wondering about this a lot lately.

I can tell you that my surroundings had ZERO to do with my development of this fetish; I can remember being aroused as far back as I can remember.

As well, my >4 year-old son is already showing a fascination with all things smooth and soft, lol.

Even my non-wammer wife noticed the way our son fixates on certain things, and jokes with me about it often. "You're son's a weirdo like you, lol."

All in good fun.

"Possibly genetic" has my vote.

I also had a son who would take of his shoes and would get into the water logged sandpit and get absolutely filthy, also fascination with the garden hose, wet socks was always a thing is seemed. Also I remember him coming to me at the age of five having squished a sticky marshmallow into his face and added pivit leaves to the mess on his face ?!?!

Also getting in the bath wearing a vest pretending he forgot to take it off.

Maybe it is hereditary

Ah: Nature/Nuture/Choice.

There is some support for a genetic/physical component underlying whether someone is gay.

But here I think we're talking about kink, not sexual orientation.

So, a fetish is a re-directed sexual impulse of a sexual reaction to a non-procreative or extra-procreative stimulus. There are all sorts of fetishes: BDSM, foot fetishes, tickling, etc. WAM is only one among many fetishes. Some men fixate on different parts of the female anatomy. At it's root, someone with a fetish responds to something other than his/her partner's genitalia.

It would strike me as odd that there would be a genetic disposition to something as specific as WAM. Especially since its popularity is relatively recent.

BUT, there could well be a generic disposition, with a genetic foundation, to displace one's sexual attentions away from genitalia. So, someone's son, who had such a generic genetic disposition, would find it very easily triggered by his parents' kink. If mom and dad are into WAM, it's likely that his generic disposition would be activated in that direction. If mom and dad owned a shoe store...