Mechanophilia and early emotional deprivation

Mechanophilia (or mechaphilia) is a type of paraphilia that is expressed in a sexual attraction or love for machines and vehicles, such as cars, bicycles, motorcycles or airplanes. This behavior involves a sexual interest in mechanisms and is often considered atypical or extreme. Clinical presentation: We present a case of a 30-year-old man with pronounced mechanophilia (objectophilia), referred to a vintage Volga car inherited from his grandfather. The patient describes an intense emotional and sexual attraction to the object, anthropomorphizing it and attributing to it the role of a central object of attachment. Anamnestic data: A 30-year-old man, with no data on early childhood development. The critical aspect in the patient’s history was a stay in a children’s institution for the first seven years of his life, followed by late adoption. There is severe early emotional deprivation and a deficit in the formation of a primary attachment figure. He has completed secondary education. He is more anxious, insecure, and introverted by nature. He has no intimate partner, and has not had sexual intercourse. He works in a car repair shop. Psychopathological analysis: From a psychiatric perspective, the case illustrates a possible compensatory function of objectophilia. The car, as a family value, serves as a “transitional” object that mediates the connection with roots and families that are absent in early childhood. The retro Volga car can be seen as a pathologically fixed transitional object that was supposed to be a “bridge” to people, but remained the ultimate goal [1]. Paraphilic behavior is interpreted as a defense mechanism against the fear of abandonment in interpersonal relationships, since as an inanimate object it offers security and permanence. Therapeutic route: Up to now, he has visited various psychiatrists in connection with complaints of increased anxiety, insomnia and lack of initiative. He has been treated with Sertraline up to 100 mg per day, without any therapeutic effect. After that, he has been taking Paroxetine 20 mg per day, in combination with Pregabalin 150 mg per day. He was also treated with Olanzapine 10 mg per day, but in 2 months he gained 10 kg and the olanzapine was stopped. 6 months ago, he started treatment with Trittico XR 150 mg per day together with psychotherapy. He visits his psychotherapist regularly, initially sharing difficult communication and shame about sharing his intimate sexual thoughts and actions. He reports a very good response to the condition. Conclusion: Our clinical case shows how objects can be used for fetishization in order to cope with childhood trauma and the fear of abandonment. The case highlights the importance of early trauma in the development of specific sexual preference disorders and the need for a comprehensive approach that integrates attachment theory into clinical practice.

References

Louise Kaplan, Female Perversions: The Temptations of Emma Bovary, 1991