Acrotomophilia (from theGreekἀκρότομος "having the top cut off"; fromἄκρονakron "extremity" and --τομος-tomos fromτέμνωtemno "I cut" andφιλίαphilia "love") is aparaphilia in which an individual expresses strong sexual interest inamputees. It is a counterpart toapotemnophilia, the desire (although not necessarily sexual) to be an amputee.
Acrotomophiles may be attracted toamputees because they like the way they look or they may view the amputee's stump as aphallic object which can be used forsexual pleasure.[1] Acrotomophiles may enjoy the idea of dominating the amputee during couples play and they may also become aroused with the thought of having to take care of an amputee.
In a survey of acrotomophiles, leg amputations were preferred over arm amputations, amputations of a single limb over double amputations, and amputations that left a stump over amputations that left no stump.[2] According to Per Solvang (2007), "Devotees adhere to standard conceptions of attractiveness in all other matters outside of amputations."[3]
Some people[who?] question whether amputating one's own body parts or operating on a partner for the sake of sexual pleasure is ethical. For some,[who?] modifying the body is a private ritual of self-ownership and freedom of choice. Psychiatrists may make a diagnosis ofbody integrity identity disorder.[4][5]
The termamelotatism has also been used to describe acrotomophilia. The sexual interest inbeing an amputee isapotemnophilia.[6][7]John Money (1977) used the termsautoapotemnophilia andalloapotemnophilia to describe the erotic interest of wanting to be or appear as an amputee versus wanting amputees as sexual partners;[8] neither term has been widely used since. The termteratophilia is used to describe arousal from deformed or monstrous people.[9]
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