Have you heard of Objectophilia?

Never before, but that is fascinating!

Nope. I learn so much here…

What is objectophilia? Is this spelling right?

I clicked on the link to learn more, but I cant view it because Im at work and we have “surf control”, so if anyone will fill me in that would be great because from reading the topics I am very interested.

There is a hilarious episode about this from Boston Legal in which Jerry defends a woman who is in love with a utility box. I believe it is called “The Object of My Affection.” That was the first I heard of it.

Why couldn’t you include at least a rudimentary definition in your question?

Because it’s easy to look it up if you don’t know, and besides it is fairly clear from the word itself.

I guess it makes sense that if you can have a phobia of anything, you could also have a philia of anything

I can’t look up anything right now. Why should I anyway? You’re the one who asked the question. To everyone who uses links in their question: Please be considerate. We don’t want to do research while we are recreating. Tennesseejac can’t go to the link either so it’s not just me. Sorry, and thank you for your consideration.

@tennesseejac and @steve6: Here is the wikipedia page, but it has limited info.

@steve6: The word is pretty self explanatory; object means object and philia meaning love, which is a common greek ending that is the opposite of phobia. And I was asking if anyone had heard of it, you could’ve just said no. So stop being such a wench and chill out.

Thanks Tits! (glad you didnt call me a wench)

I’ve heard of it, but only because I watched the same documentary. It’s strange… makes me wonder about the past traumas in these peoples’ lives that makes them be this way. They seem to truly believe the object reciprocates the feelings.

Thanks Tits!

@Likeradar: I definitely think it has to do with trauma or some form of Asperger’s syndrome. It seems to me like there is some kind of trust issue or inability to understand or handle human interaction. What puzzles me most is what is going on when the person claims to be able to communicate with the object.

@all: There is also a specified form of this called mecaphilia, though I could not find a link with a reputable definition. A mecaphile is one who has a physical attraction to automobiles (although it can extend to things like planes and helicopters as well). This is a similar documentary to the first one entitled “My Car is My Lover.”

@TitsMcGhee I saw the car one too. Is it just me, or did the car-lovin’ men seem kinda off balance and nuts (especially the older guy) and the object-lovin’ women seen damaged and sad? I wanted to laugh at the men, but hug and heal the women.

I think claiming to communicate with the object stems from such a total fear/inability to connect with another human being. The need to be loved and cared for is so basic to humans, so these women have somehow convinced themselves that the Eiffel Tower/Berlin Wall/Bow/Roller Coaster/Fence etc is giving them that acceptance and love. but maybe I’m totally wrong. It’s hard to wrap my mind around it.

@Likeradar: Agreed for sure! You’ve hit the nail on the head. Another thing I noticed was that the women seemed to gravitate toward large structures instead of objects you could hold. The whole thing would make more sense, I feel, if it was a doll or small, transportable item (think Lars and the Real Girl or the relationship with the sword), but they are mammoth structures that cannot be encompassed. Quite curious.

@TitsMcGhee And many of them were powerful, phallic objects- the Eiffel Tower, that ride, the Berlin Wall… my mind. Why not a stone or a pencil or candle or something?

My mind. It is blown.

Berlin Wall? Phallic? Really?

Not phallic, just powerful. Should have been clearer.

I saw in on Boston Legal. The attorney with Aspergers Syndrome had it. I think it was a toaster then an iPhone.

In my response to @Likeradar, I remembered the film Lars and the Real Girl. My perspective on the movie might have been entirely different with a background of knowledge of objectophilia…

Very true, TitsMcGhee. I thought Lars was just a sad man in a charming movie, but after the documentary, I might have put more thought into his pathology. At least Lars went for something with physically human characteristics though. That makes it less… weird.

Very true. I would love to get a psychologist’s opinion on the topic for sure.

Are there any known psychologist jellies?

I only know one, but she isn’t very active, though I believe she works within behavioral psychology… perhaps I’ll stop by her profile.

So the woman became an objectophiliac when her bow became her beau.
Very strange.

I myself suffer from compulsive punning.

@LostInParadise Is there a cure for that? If you find one let me know. What I was thinking was that you can’t blame her for being objective. ba dum psh

My friends have been watching this same Documentary. Suddenly very popular. And very unnerving.

@TitsMcGhee and @Likeradar Lars and the Real Girl is actually ALSO based off of a documentary, but it’s not the objectophilia one. It’s a documentary about men that order dolls and are in love with them. If I can dig up the name i’ll post it.

Real Dolls and the Men Who Love Them

@adreamofautumn : I’ll watch that asap, thank you.

@NaturalMineralWater , actually I am hoping that they never do find a cure so that the likes of you and I can continue to inflict our unique form of pun-ishment on the overly literal minded

It seem as a big adiction for live movements

I’m a psychologist but I can contribute absolutely nothing in this department. Sorry Tits.

@Carol Thanks anway :)

@Likeradar: Well damn. I’m going to dig up my old Abnormal Psychology professor’s email and drop him a line to see if he can help at all.

I wanted to type a lengthy response but my keyboard just asked me to take her to bed…..