Psychology related to dolls

No offense intended...but that sounds like a man to me...seemingly a lot of male psychologist/psychiatrists want to simplify women's needs back to maternal/maternal instincts...

I wonder if a man's reaction to women liking dolls is more about what he thinks than what women do

 

I loathe children, personally. So sticky and needy, nothing like a doll ^^;;
I (would) treat my dolls more like my lovers.

 

Well, having these dolls is kind of therapeutic.
You're busy with the doll, focusing on them and forgetting everything around you.
A couple of months ago I had a very hard time and when I had my doll and when I was busy with her, that was really good for me.

 

I think that theory is truly a knee-jerk reaction that stems from viewing the dolls as "human substitues". I have four children, I don't need a maternal outlet, clearly. I just like dolls, and I like to play with them. I am a hobbyist. Why does anyone do a hobby, or any type of art? It is the human urge to be creative, and to storytell. Cavemen did it by painting on the walls of thier caves. It is interesting to explore theories, but I wouldn't really put too much faith in them. I would rather enjoy for pure enjoyment's sake. I would say it's great to think about why but just don't get too emotional about it.

 

Anyone who hates all children is working through some kind of problem. Children are people and saying that you hate all of a kind of people is awful and petty. I'm not talking about the people who said that they hate the idea of having kids or being parents, the ones who said they simply hate kids in general should keep such things to themselves, especially if they want to be respectable adults.

 

There are people who are true psychologists, and then there are those that even after going to school, OVER analyze everything. The truth of the matter is, that there are many different reasons for each individual that collects. No two have the same reasons persay. For one, yes, it might be a maternal instinct. But for someone else a god-complex. yet for someone else, this might just be a way to linger with one's one inner child. For me, it's an artistic expression. I use the BJD's to put my book/art characters into three dimensional life. I love when people try to imply that so many people are the same, and can be explained away by one simple theory. Real life is much more grey than black and white.

 

Very well said comicbookartistboi, you probably just summed up this discussion as accurately as possible, not to mention added some interesting stuff ^^

 

For me it's definitely about control. I'm a very anxious person, and I really like to have all of my ducks in a row, otherwise I stress out. To write characters just the way I want them, and to create a character in a beautiful doll is really satisfying when I control every aspect of what goes into that characters looks and habitat. Additionally, surrounding myself with cute, adorable, and beautiful things is very rewarding! I'm glad this topic was written, I think it's very interesting!

 

I don't know, collecting BJD's doesn't make me feel like a mother. It makes me feel like an art collector.

 

Been there-done that-don't ever want to do it again! Love the grand kids, but glad they're not mine!

His theory holds about as much water as a bucket with a hole in the bottom!

How long did it take him to come to that conclusion - 10 seconds! LOL!

I don't mean to sound insulting - it's all in fun!

 

I don't wanna be a mom!
I mean the fact I am not a woman might have something to play in that too, but still!

 

I have the maternal instinct of a brick.

I'm fascinated by child psychology, but I can't stand kids for more than a few hours at best (though I guess my interest in child psychology probably makes it worse since I know kids of a certain age are likely to have about as much sense of logic as a brick). :-/ If my doll was my maternal instinct, I'm an abusive mother. They're not baby dolls.


I just like them because they're pretty and pose much better than any other doll I've encountered.

 

I would not ever want to have children.. Dolls don't cry, make a fuss, poop their pants or make messes... So saying that doll owning is better than having children... No offense to loving moms.. Having children just isn't my cup of tea. The only way I can se my self as mom to them is in the sense that I created them in a way... But then again you can't choose a personality or the looks of real children.... I mean yea sure for the first few years... Then they choose their own looks.. So I think your friend is wrong.

 

I absolutely agree with Jiji! No children for me, please. Dolls are the way to have rest, relax and forget about fixed routine. Their look, personality, character etc are things that I want to see in people, that surround me. Of course, every doll is an aoutlet for my creativity.
And yes, I talk with my dolls as it helps me to analyse situation, think effectively and decide some things for me.

I suppose, your friend as many psychologists like to label people instead of delving into the "problem". I have a psychologist as a friend too. He knows me quite well, so that his diagnosis is that I'm not sutisfied with the world around, with my life, people and try to protect my feelings buying "ideal people" to "live" with me. I do not agree with him and with your friend and with anybody who tries to label doll woners without having his\her own doll

 

I think to me dolls are more about the dream, beauty and fantasy, than about maternity. I've noticed that doll lovers usually have artistic type of character.

 

that doesn't make sense since my dolls characters are older than me o_o

 

Maternal.... sure right *cough*.
jeez, this guy must have been hit on the head with a stupid brick

Reason= Defiantly a God complex
plus dolls do not insult you, eat your food and steal your clothes

but they sure do drain money

 

After seeing this starting comment of old thread and several similar type discussions related to the subject, I´d say that answers in general shows that people who don´t want to get children, often like the dolls. Not everyone are similar, of course, and there are so many different reasons to collect and own dolls, but looking this hobby at the point that the thread starter did, I´d say rather than wanting babies unconciously, the doll hobby seen in psychologist eyes would rather show that person wants to keep the control; the resin "child" won´t argue, you can create him/her just like you want him/her to be, the doll has not own personality or wants or needs, except those the owner has created for the doll. You may not get a "perfect" human child of your dreams; that child is a real person and may not fulfill your needs and plans, but with the doll you can always sell it and buy new one, if you don´t bond or feel right with something about it. If you don´t like babies, your "child" can be adult already.

Somehow, to be honest, this kind of thinking makes it sound even worse than the idea of it being secret wish to be a mom. It sounds like people don´t even want to give their time and endless care for a living person, but rather enjoy making their own life as perfect as possible. It somehow reflects this selfish time of life, when so many people feel better only to please themselves, not other people.

Also, there´s lots of people in doll hobby whose children are already left home or aren´t babies anymore. With dolls there will not be the moment when they´re start their own life and leave home behind. They´re always yours, in the way real children can never be. (I guess this is what is said a lot about people which collect the live-looking "reborn" dolls.)

Luckily, I think most of the doll hobbyists are just normal, nice people enjoying their hobby as seeing it as way of art, a way to make crafts and create new beauty in this world. I´m not saying anyone to be like written above - just thinking the case in psychological way as the starter of the thread suggested.

I myself would love to get children of my own very much, but wouldn´t see these dolls (even still I like best the child dolls) being something answering that need of becoming a mom, which indeed I have. Anyone who´se been near little children can tell there´s nothing similar in dolls compared to real children; a doll could never compare a living soul. I work in day care area and having my working days full of time with children I feel it fills the need to be a mom, hold and care and love the little humans. In my free nights I love to spend time with artistic hobbies and creative crafts along with the dolls is just a fun way to pass time and enjoy the knitting, sewing and photographing.

 

I agree with you milly77 I used to help out at a Beaver[scouts] group and dolls are nothing like children.

 

While I do want to have kids, and all that jazz, that's looking at it in a very general way. It seems much too general for me to be comfortable agreeing with; probably because the information being given is also very general - i.e. (give general info, get general answer). But in reality, what can be said about the owners who are already parents? I guess it's not subliminal anymore, then.

I think a big chunk of this also has to do with my strange God-complex. It's not some creepy puppet/minion thing, though.

When I think about it, I like creating variety; mixing it up. I like to surprise myself by giving a character, or a Sim, a trait, a name or a feature that suddenly pops into my head; it makes me say to myself 'what if...'. I actually had done this to a character a long time ago, and it surprised me.

If I say to myself that it would be interesting to have a doll with red hair, I'd do it if it sounded good. Sometimes, I surprise myself. Of course, not everything works out, but that's ok. Only natural.

And, yes, I do like the control of it all. If I want to take a picture of my doll (and fail) in front of my Christmas lights, I can. I can do whatever I want, and they can't protest. So, I can accidentally leave the window open - room becoming ice cold - and no one's going to get upset that I froze them.