Imprinting has been mainly studied in birds, who will mistake for their mothers whatever objects are shown to them during the early days of their existence outside the egg.  Thus ducks can be 'imprinted' or turned on by a piece of colored cardboard, and will follow it around a track as though it were their mother.  Sexual fetishes, which also develop very early in life, exert a similar influence on men, while women may become devoted to counter fetishes which they discover are sexually exciting to the men around them.\r\n \r\nFascinations and fetishes are very deep-seated, and may seriously disturb the smooth course of living in those who are afflicted with them, very much as drug addiction does.  In spite of all attempts at rational Adult control, the Child is almost irresistibly repulsed or attracted to the specific object, and as a result may make sacrifices all out of proportion to the situation in order to avoid or attain it.\r\n \r\nThe remedy for fascinations is to become aware of them, to talk them over, and to decide whether they can be lived with.  After that, the Parent can be allowed its say.  If the person decides in his head that he can live comfortably with a negative fascination, well and good.  He cannot realize, without considerable analysis of his thoughts and feelings, how much such a single item may be affecting his reactions, usually as a result of his own early experiences.  On the other hand, a positive fascination may enslave him beyond the bounds of reason, and should be just as carefully considered.

• early childhood development
• sexuality
• fetishism
• self-observation
• self-awareness
• conscious development
• life
• reason
• will
• addiction
• existence
• control
• analysis
• other
• influence
• situation