Acrotomophilia

Acrotomophilia is the paraphilia of desiring for one’s partner to be an amputee, or being interested in people, who had already lost a limb or two.

The condition is related to another paraphilia, involving amputations; apotemnophilia, which is a desire to become an amputee.

Both of the conditions may lead to being diagnosed with Body Integrity Identity Disorder, as the origin of these states is observed to be a false body-image.

There are various hypotheses as to why “acrotomophiles” are feeling attraction toward amputees; one is stating, that the stumps left after amputations are phallic in shape, so it creates a kind of sexual fantasy within the subject.

Other theories are stating that it is either a will to project power in the bedroom, by dominating the amputee, or a desire to take care of him or her.

The condition had been identified along with apotemnophilia by John Money in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

The term “acrotomophilia” comes from the Greek words akrótomos meaning having the top cut off, while –philia means love or liking toward something.

The conditions had been further researched in 2004, and determined to be disorders, rather than sexual preferences, falling into the category of Body Integrity Identity Disorder or B.I.I.D.

The term “acrotomophilia” had been defined on Urban Dictionary in 2004.

• SpringerLink – Acrotomophilia, sex and disability: New concepts and case report
• Psychological Today – Psychological Crutches