Scientist reveals the most unusual fetishes he's discovered and you'll be surprised what's on the list

Sexual fetishes and fantasies are often a taboo topic, but it’s a reality for some people in the bedroom.

Everyone has something - like some like BDSM, while others enjoy group sex.

So, while you might joke about kinks and fetishes and how odd they might be for others, it can be a need for someone else to reach the finish line, and when it comes to the more unusual stuff, that can have a much bigger impact on the person than you'd think.

Now, Dr Mark Griffiths, who is an expert in Behavioural Addiction at Nottingham Trent University, has opened up on what he's learnt about certain types of 'paraphilia' he found during his research into sexual perversions.

Fetishes are different from sexual perversions (Getty stock images)

According to Robert Weiss in his post on Psychcentral, he describes kinks, fetishes, and paraphilias as 'involving the same behavior', which fetishes are technically apart of paraphiliac disorders, however, the key difference is the 'role that behavior plays and the effects it has can be very different depending on the person'.

And Dr Griffiths describes paraphilias in an article for The Conversation as 'uncommon types of sexual expression often described as sexual deviations, sexual perversions or disorders of sexual preference'.

He further adds they should be studied by scientists, writing: “Paraphilias may be laughed off, dismissed or leave some people disgusted, but there's a pressing need for more research into uncommon sexual behaviour given know.”

He also continued to say that while some paraphilias are illegal, 'most cause no psychological or behavioural problems when they are engaged by consenting adults'.

Vorarephilia

Hollywood actor Armie Hammer had accusations of cannibalistic fetishes made against him in 2021, which Hammer denied as well as accusations of rape and sexual assault.

After an investigation by police, the Call Me By Your Name star wasn't charged with any crime, and he later said he was 'grateful' for the cannibal accusations.

According to Griffiths, the act of being sexually aroused by cannibalism is a very real thing to some people.

Armie Hammer was accused of having cannibalistic fetishes in 2021 (Todd Williamson/E! Entertainment/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

He explained: “Vorarephilia – or ‘vore’ – refers to being sexually aroused by the idea of being eaten, eating another person or observing this process for sexual gratification.

“Most of the fantasies of vorarephiliacs involve being the ones eaten.

“Devouring someone could be viewed as the ultimate act of dominance by a predator and the ultimate act of submission by the prey.”

The case of Armin Meiwes is a stark reminder of this after he was sentenced to life in prison for killing and eating Bern Jurgen Brandes, who agreed he met after posting an online advert on 'cannibal fetish websites'.

Dacryphilia

Dacryphilia is a sexual arousal to a person crying (Getty Stock Image)

Dacryphilia is another fetish, which is when a person becomes aroused by someone crying when they're in the bedroom.

Dr Griffiths says this comes in three parts: “Compassionate dacryphiles are sexually aroused by the compassion of comforting a crier.

“Dominant or submissive dacryphiles are sexually aroused by either causing tears in a consenting submissive partner or by being made to cry by a consenting dominant partner.

“'Curled lip' dacryphiles are sexually aroused by the curling of a protruded bottom lip during crying.”

Eproctophilia

Eproctophilia is an arousal to flatulance (Getty Stock Image)

This one might be seen as a somewhat overpowering fetish, which sees someone get turned on by farts. Professor Griffith encountered eproctophilia in 2013, when he met a man called Brad (which is an alias).

The 22-year-old had a crush on a girl who farted in class which 'sparked a strange interest', and when he heard a male friend fart, he also began fixating on this sound.

Dr Griffith said: “He set up a bet with the wager being the right to fart in the loser’s face for a week. He continued to lose such bets once every few weeks for about two years.”

And there seems to be a market for farts, as one influencer made a lot of money selling her farts in a jar online.

Apotemnophilia

Dr Griffiths say apotemnophilia isn't a form of masochism (Getty Stock Image)

Apotemnophilia is when someone is aroused by thinking about or being faced with being with an amputee.

The expert said: “Some apotemnophiles may pretend to be amputees.

“But, for a minority, the behaviour involves obsessive scheming to convince a surgeon to perform a medically unnecessary amputation.

“To most people, this might seem like a type of masochism, but case studies suggest that there is no erotisation of pain – only of the healed amputated stump.”

Salirophilia

Getting down and dirty (literally) is also considered paraphilia (Getty Stock Image)

This one is a little complex. It is when a person is turned on by dirtying someone who is attractive, by covering them in mud, or damaging their clothes, or messing up their hair and makeup, for example.

In 2019, Dr Griffith met Jeff (alias) who explained that when he was young, he wanted to masturbate in dirty places.

While he wanted to have sex with women he could dirty up, he struggled to find someone willing.

“He was also a fan of the television show Fear Factor in which contestants perform revolting tasks for prize money, such as eating rotting food or being submerged in foul fluids.” Dr Griffith said, adding: “These were a source of sexual arousal for Jeff.

“He told me: 'I just find the defilement of an attractive woman’s body erotic'.”