Is Infantilism Genetic?

[diaperboy8609]

Hi,

I think my genes played in the role for Infantilism. I was not a bedwetter.

[Sophie ♥]

Infintalism, along with nearly every other fetish/lifestyle in the world has not been proven or disproven to be connected to genetics.

From this point on people are going to state their own opinions or what doctors "believe" and so forth, but the bottom line is nothing has been proven.

And also, being a bedwetter is deffinently NOT the only way to become involved in the ABDL community.

-Sophie

[Guest Mandi Danielle]

Dude, even if it is, I'd rather not know. I really don't fancy picturing my grandmother in bed with my grampa playing around with diapers.

[smarti]

My feeling would be "no" to a specific gene for ABDL.

There might be certain personality traits which are genetic that would predispose somebody to be AB though, or some other paraphillic behaviour.

I've not noticed it in any family members of mine.

I think it's more what you were exposed to in formative years.

The daily things we do

For money or for fun

Can disappear like dew

Or harden and live on.

Strange reciprocity:

The circumstance we cause

In time gives rise to us,

Becomes our memory.

F'rinstance, nappies have changed out of all recognition in my lifetime, and i'm not that old.

[Sophie ♥]

Dude, even if it is, I'd rather not know. I really don't fancy picturing my grandmother in bed with my grampa playing around with diapers.

On the other hand it would deffinently relieve some stress for those people who hate hiding things from their parents because they know at least one of their parents probably went through something similar at one point in their life. And a hand on your shoulder telling you it's okay really helps at a younger age to cope with all the guilt that hits at first.

-Sophie

[enfant]

I highly doubt there's a gene that causes someone to be an infantilist. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if there were genes that made it more likely, though.

For one thing, I've seen some evidence that suggested that paraphilia may have some relationship to the autism spectrum (it was a study of sexual behavior among autistic adults, which found that fetishistic behavior was way more common than one would expect if there were no correlation). Anecdotally... I'm not autistic, but it does seem to run in my family, and I definitely have some mild autistic characteristics--and I'm an infantilist. My uncle was probably autistic, and after his death I found his porn collection--and he was a fetishist too (though a different sort).

Also, bedwetting is genetic (kids have a 30% chance of being a bedwetter if one parent was, and it rises to almost 80% if both parents were). Being a bedwetter obviously doesn't guarantee that you'll be an infantilist, but it does provide the spark that gets some of us started.

So it wouldn't surprise me if there were some tendency for infantilism to run in families. That doesn't mean much, necessarily... it might be that it changes the odds from one in a thousand to one in a hundred--it'd still be pretty rare. I bet you could find stronger evidence that fetishism in general does.

[BabyJune]

Infantilism isn't genetic as in "you inherit the desire." Not everyone can pinpoint what makes them use diapers or dress like a baby for recreation. It stems from a life experience that caused them (us) to associate pleasure with baby items. There are a lot of things that trigger infantilistic tendencies; it's not easy to narrow it down. And we don't always remember what those triggers are because sometimes they happened very early in our lives. Also, it may not always be a positive event that triggers infantilism. It might be to search for a good feeling that was missing during early childhood just as easily as it can be a very positive, happy, childhood that we never wanted to end.

There is no stereotypical infantilist, either, nor do people enjoy the same activities. Unfortunately, not a lot of study has been done on the subject and most of the information available is quite a few years old.

Unless a person actually goes to a psychiatrist/psychologist for counseling or therapy, there is no way of gathering information. And what information is obtained is not always accurate.

Does that clear up anything for our readers? I'm still trying to figure it out for myself.

Baby June 8/2/2008

[anondl]

The genetic default condition is for heterosexuality. If one believes the theory of "natural selection" as proposed by Darwin this is logical. I also think that homosexuality has a huge genetic component therefore I am not willing to condem homosexuality any more than I would condem a person with blue eyes (I think the %s are about the same). I can't speculate globally how anyone would be attracted to diapers or stellito heels or water mellons or 57 Fords. Had I my choices I would rather any sexual conflict between me and my theoretical SO be over a penchant for titty bars rather than diapers. That being said, sex(uality) is for consenting adults and minors should be protected so they can make their own decisions.

Anondl

[Pwy ydy'r tad]

OK, I actually have a degree in genetics, so I know for a fact there is no 'infantilism' gene, it just doesn't work like that.

Infantilism is much more psychological, maybe you were in diapers too long, or not long enough when you were younger.

I view infantilism as a fetish, and I'm going to assume that you do to. Fetishes are based on early childhood experiences, the targets are laid down at a very young age. Now this isn't true for everyone, so does that mean there is a 'fetish' gene. No, at least not a single gene that can be screened for. A complex association of genes at a variety of points in the genome that when certain combinations are together promote fetishistic tendencies? Possible, but with our knowledge of where it is there's not way to prove or disprove this.

So when someone says that there is a gene for something (a popular example is obesity) it's bullshit. Genetic basis, probably, but whether you're overweight or like to wear diapers there will never be a gene that causes it, the environment always plays a big role.

Maybe when they've found all the genes that contribute to multiple sclerosis (I did a chunk of my dissertation on this), as well as determining all the genes that give a predisposition to cancer they'll look into it.

[enfant]

I view infantilism as a fetish, and I'm going to assume that you do to. Fetishes are based on early childhood experiences, the targets are laid down at a very young age.

I don't think the origins of fetishes are really all that well understood.

It's been assumed for years that they're based on early "triggering" childhood experiences, because a lot of fetishists report strong memories of such experiences. But it seems just as plausible to me that that could be a sort of hindsight or availability bias. Childhood experiences that don't have strong associations are more likely to be forgotten. A person with a fetish for, say, rubber, might well retain memories of rubber raincoats and aprons specifically because of the rubber fetish, but forget experiences involving shoes, because those memories have no strong resonance that makes them stick around. A shoe fetishist would be just the opposite: retaining memories of shoes and forgetting about raincoats and aprons. And a sexually typical person might have plenty of experiences involving shoes and raincoats, and forget them all.

So, years later, a sex researcher interviews fetishists, notices that they have these strong memories of their fetish objects from early childhood, and thinks that these experiences triggered or even caused the fetish... but actually it's the other way around. The fact that these events are still remembered is an effect of the fetish. The fetish itself was caused by something else entirely.

Now, of course there can't be a gene or gene complex that codes for being a diaper fetishist--diapers were invented way too recently to have influenced evolution! But could the propensity to fixate emotionally and/or sexually on objects or ideas--to be a fetishist of some kind, in other words--have a genetic basis? Absolutely. Honestly, at this point, considering all the other things that have turned out to be heritable... I'd be a little bit surprised if it didn't.

(I amuse myself sometimes by wondering about our fetishist caveman ancestors. What turned them on? Perhaps those cave paintings at Lascaux were primitive wank material...)

[Pwy ydy'r tad]

Well like I said, I'm a geneticist, not a psychologist. I read an article on fetishism in a legitimate newspaper a few years ago, so I've been basing everything on that. I suppose right now we should know that there is no definitive answer or explanation for these things, especially when you consider that infantilism manifests in different ways and we all enjoy it for different reasons.

Fetishistic cavemen, sounds like a bad porno, or a good porno, depending on your tastes. I think back then they were still driven to reproduce more than anything. I'm sure fetishism, like almost everything else, started with the ancient Greeks.

[Pwy ydy'r tad]

Hate to burst your bubble, but it doesn't work like that. The only reason a population control like that would be activated was if there were adverse conditions, so unless everyone here was malnourished you're body's going to think everything's fine it's OK to breed. Besides, fetishism doesn't control populations, you just breed with other fetishists.

And there have also been historical incidences of fetishism, particularly pony play. I can't remember exactly when off the top of my head, but I can look them up if you're interested.

[Baby Bethany]

Well like I said, I'm a geneticist, not a psychologist. I read an article on fetishism in a legitimate newspaper a few years ago, so I've been basing everything on that. I suppose right now we should know that there is no definitive answer or explanation for these things, especially when you consider that infantilism manifests in different ways and we all enjoy it for different reasons.

Fetishistic cavemen, sounds like a bad porno, or a good porno, depending on your tastes. I think back then they were still driven to reproduce more than anything. I'm sure fetishism, like almost everything else, started with the ancient Greeks.

I don't think there is any reason not to believe that prehistoric man had no fetishes. Maybe before Homo Sapien they were just driven to reproduce, but even the earliest Homo Sapien pretty much had the brain that we have, they just lacked the learning/education.

There are really early cave paintings of people dressed as animals or wearing animal masks, yep, you've got it.........the cavemen were furrys!!!

Beth

[Prudie]

Infantilism is much more psychological...

Precisely. Of course, family members, particularly siblings, can have very similar psychological experiences. That doesn't make this itself genetic, not by a long shot.

[sarah_ab]

So when someone says that there is a gene for something (a popular example is obesity) it's bullshit. Genetic basis, probably, but whether you're overweight or like to wear diapers there will never be a gene that causes it, the environment always plays a big role.

Maybe when they've found all the genes that contribute to multiple sclerosis (I did a chunk of my dissertation on this), as well as determining all the genes that give a predisposition to cancer they'll look into it.

[crys_138]

I doubt it was genetic in my case. No one else in my family was into any sort of diaper play, although incontinence does hit the aged among them.

[TheMagicDragon]

That was one of the finer strings regarding infantilism I've read in recent history.

Love the intellectual responses, as I am very well educated myself and can grasp the finer points made here. Makes me wish SYDNY was still around for those who remember the fantastic group which, alas, went underground. Fantastic people...

Guys, please keep it up. Everyone here deserves a better understanding (i.e. education) of infantalism and AB, DL, Dom/sub, etc... dynamics which affect so many of our lives here, wether we like it or not.

I've learned to accept it and enjoy it. Glenn DL

[Bettypooh]

"Unless a person actually goes to a psychiatrist/psychologist for counseling or therapy, there is no way of gathering information. And what information is obtained is not always accurate."

I'll stick my 2 cents worth on this thread in here You're absolutely right about the above. My time with my 'head doctors' would register a hit in a hundred areas. Some had more impact than others, in my case gender issues, anger management, depression, and suicide. And since these doctors can't always clearly define things, how they rate you is very subjective. Because of that, their science is quite imperfect as are their conclusions. That's not to say that they can't help you because I'm living proof that they can No doctors are supposed to give out any of your personal info anyway. My therapist said she never did and never would and that many of her colleagues felt the same way.

As to genetics, I know of nothing in my family to indicate a predisposition to anything except drinking. My own impetus into being DL is probably from parents who tried to make me grow up too fast, and an incontinence problem(pants and bedwetting till mid-teens and later)that they never allowed me to address with diapers. I didn't want them as a child but they would have made the living he!! of my youth much better. It was a need then and an extreme want now. A lot of introspection and a lot of learning how therapy and psychology work brought these conclusions to me. I am living out something from my past by giving myself the thing(s) that were not allowed me as a child. And being diapered improves the quality of my sleep which has always been a big issue for me.

There is something of a rebel in all of us as we have a tendency to act out the things we were once denied; it's part of being human. To that extent it may be genetic but I doubt it goes any further

Bettypooh

[Ts2020]

Possibly in part. My sister, my mother, and I all have tendencies in this direction even though I am male and they are female.

[rusty pins]

They do say that bedwetting is hereditary.

[bedwettersteve]

On 6/22/2022 at 4:52 PM, rusty pins said:

They do say that bedwetting is hereditary.

bedwetting sure is in my family 

[LGGrace]

I have read that even though we do not have memories from being a baby, we do have emotional memories that can shape who we become later in life.

That being said, I think there could have been a few factors that could have affected me. I was born very premature, 2lbs 1oz, and spent the first 2 months of my life in the NICU. Because of this, I was never breastfeed and looked like a newborn until I was 6 months old. Even though my parents visited me every day, I was not able to have skin to skin contact as a newborn due to risk of infection. All the pictures of my parents holding me in the hospital, they were wearing those gowns over there clothes. 

One of my earliest memories was when I was a little over 2 1/2 years old. My mom dropped me off at a daycare for a few hours as a part of a mommy's day out program to help me socialize. At the time I was barely verbal and didn't know how to really communicate yet. I remember my mom dropped me off and being very nervous. I remember one of the daycare workers changing my diaper. I didn't realize until later in life that was what she was doing. I just remembered l was laying down on a table and looking up at this new women as she was focused on my lower half. Then I remembered standing in the back of the room waiting on my mom to pick me up. I remember all the regular daycare toddlers were laying on mats in the middle of the room taking naps. My family didn't believe me until I told them which room that I was dropped off at, last room on the left, and was able to describe the daycare worker, middle age black lady. 

I also was late to potty train too. I was nearly 4 years old before I was daytime trained. I didn't realize until my parents told me that that was the reason that I didn't go to 3K preschool. I do remember going to 4K and this was at the same daycare/preschool from my earliest memory. Even though I was developmentally delayed as a toddler, it didn't hold me back from leaning other skills at an early age. I learned how to swim and ride a bike without training wheels at the age of 4.

I also was a bedwetter until I was 14. I don't know exactly when my parents stop putting me in diapers/pull-ups at night, but do remember having to deal with wets sheets all the time around 7 onward. I also remember being shamed and told I was lazy by my dad starting around 11 for wetting the bed. He would also threaten to put me back in diapers. I was really scared of that, even though at the time that is when I began to want to wear diapers. That is probably why I tried to suppress my abdl desires for most of my life, because it is tied to memories of shame. I think my dad was upset with me during that time was because he was a bedwetter too, until he was 12. Knowing his parents, he was probably shamed too.

[Little BabyDoll Christine]

No, unless you have recognized studies to show it. However metnal CONTENT has never been shown to be such and  can usually be traced to a learning event. This, in philosophy  has been known as "tabula rasa [clean slate]" for over 2300 years and is presumed to be the default condition and that on which psychotherapy is even possible

Since bedwetting has come up in this discussion, I would question the judgement of anyone using a fetish/lifestyle site as a source for medical knowledge. That would be like asking me for knowledge of brain surger, or even thoracic and abdominal surgery, both os which I have had and I asked a few questions about the process, but I have nowhere near the knowledge of how to do it to be anothing other than  very questionable and not worth treating as anything but anecdotal and hearsay. I was told WHAT was done, but not HOW and  any advice would be worth what you paid for it