I Now Pronounce You Man and…Car? A Closer Look at the Mental Processes of a Sexual Minority
We’re all familiar with the different types of relationships people can have, whether it be between two men, two women, or a man and a woman. But what about the people who don’t feel any type of connection or attraction with any person, but turn to inanimate objects instead?
Objectum sexuality (OS) () is when people feel that being in a relationship with another human being is inconceivable. Instead, they find themselves being attracted to buildings, statues, and vehicles, just to name a few. They insist their relationships are just like anyone else’s and some even feel that they can communicate with said object.
My Strange Addiction
In My Strange Addiction on TLC, a man named Nathanial explains the love and attraction he has for his car. He considers himself to be in a serious and committed relationship and talks much about his car as someone would about a person. This type of objectophilia is mostly common among men and is called mechasexual, whereas people who associate with objectum sexuals are predominantly female.
People who identify with these groups are rare, but they insist that what they have is no different from loving a man or a woman, and when interviewed their description and depth of the perceived relationship corresponds with the general characterizations of sexual orientation. OS people can certainly have relations with people, however, anything more than friendship feels unnatural for them and seems to be out of the question.
Sexual Trauma
Why is it that men and women would choose a lifestyle that completely lacks human romance and intimacy? The most common belief is that sexual trauma or coercion was experienced at a young age, and they have elected to bond with something that is incapable of hurting them further. This image is portrayed in the media quite often with the idea that OS people have a conditioned response of fear to other humans because of prior negative events. By avoiding any kind of an intimate relationship with a person (the negative condition) their behavior of being with something inanimate that doesn’t have the power to hurt them is strengthened, which is referred to as negative reinforcement.
However, research has suggested that while some OS people have been in fact exposed to sexual trauma, it still remains debatable if there is a correlation. Also, such a sexual orientation is still very rare, if this were considered a stronger link it would be expected to be more prevalent in our society.
Link to Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome
Even though research is presently lacking, there does appear to be a high occurrence of people either diagnosed or having some characteristics of different pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) such as autism and Asperger’s syndrome.
Many people who claim to be OS explain that their attraction to objects came at an early age. These types of developmental disorders are present at birth, but depending on how severe isn’t always immediately apparent in a child. Children with either Asperger’s or Autism have difficulty emotionally bonding with other people, tend to have abnormal interests or behaviors, and can also become preoccupied with objects. These traits of PDD’s and more could possibly explain the internal mental processes of some people in the OS community. Further research should avoid exploitation for entertainment purposes, and instead discuss the possibility of these disorders and how objectum sexuals differ in processing people and the world around them.
Related articles
- Objectum Sexual Woman in Love With the Statue of Liberty (laughingsquid.com)
- What Causes Aspergers Syndrome? (crossroadscounselingcenter.wordpress.com)
- History of Asperger Syndrome (crossroadscounselingcenter.wordpress.com)
- Ojbectum Sexuality, Baby! (darkactsbible.wordpress.com)
Very interesting topic. Guys love their toys…some a little too much!
Last year I worked in a classroom with a teacher who had Asperger syndrome and I never knew it until he got fired. I work at a school of special education and the teacher I use to help acted very strange. He sure didn’t have any emotions for the students, he would make fun of them and treat them like objects. He had to be constantly writing things down on paper, and followed a strict routine everyday because if he changed a thing he would go nuts. I never understood how they could let someone like him work with special education students when he himself didn’t even have patience.
That show My Strange Addiction sure is interesting. I’ve never heard about Objectum Sexuality (OS) until now, but I can understand how people might become attached to objects because people can be so mean-objects don’t talk back and will always be there when you need them. It’s weird, but still understandable. It is also interesting that some of these people may also have Asperger’s Syndrome or Autism, because they have the capacity for affection but are giving affection to objects instead of people. I wonder, can those who have OS be attached to more than one object?
Ashley – good question! I read several interviews and many people explained stories of breaking up with these objects in order to pursue another one, much like someone would describe ending a relationship with a person. As far as multiple objects, I think it’s possible, just like its possible to be seeing several people at once. Not wise, but very possible, haha.
I actually had seen this unusual behavior on some show on T.V. before. It was about a women who claimed that she was in love, literally in love with the eiffle tower. It resulted that she actually hired someone to marry it. I just couldn’t believe that this unusual behavior existed, but it’s out there.
You are right Lupe there are these types of behaviors out there. To be honest I never really thought about it either.