What characterizes Fetishistic Disorder?

Fetishistic Disorder is characterized by the intense sexual arousal that comes from using nonliving objects or focusing on nongenital body parts. This can include items such as clothing made of specific materials (like leather or latex), or particular body parts that are not typically considered sexually arousing, such as feet or hands. The key aspect of this disorder is that the arousal is primarily associated with these objects or body parts, rather than more typical sexual stimuli.

In contrast, needing sexual stimulation from physical pain would relate more to a different category of paraphilic disorders that involve masochism. Using living beings for sexual gratification aligns with zoophilia, which is also a distinct diagnosis. The compulsion to expose oneself in public is a characteristic of exhibitionistic disorder, not fetishistic disorder. Each of these other conditions has its own specific criteria that differentiate them from Fetishistic Disorder.