To understand the issue of fetishes in psychological terms it is important to define some terms. According to the DSM 1V a fetish is defined as a sexual attraction or response to a non living object. Examples of fetishes are such things as a male having a sexual response to women's shoes, stockings, panties, bras and other types of similar objects. For a variety of complex reasons, the male individual experiences sexual conflicts of a type that his sexual urges and needs to masturbate can only be aroused when the objects are present.

However, sexual responses to a living part of the body are referred to as paraphillias. For example, a man may have a strong sexual response only in relation to feet, breats, arm pits and similar parts of the body. The major point here is that in order to have a sexual response, the male needs the body part to be present. The entire woman is not important.

Is there anything wrong or abnormal about fetishes?
That is a complex question.
Whether or not something is considered normal it must suitably answer three questions:

1. Does the fetish or paraphilia cause distress to another person?
2. Is the festish or paraphilia legal?
3. Does the individual with the fetish or paraphilia function socially or is the social functioning impaired due to his sexual issues?

If the answer to all three questions are "NO" then, there should be no problem.

When it comes to human sexual behavior there is wide variability in what people are willing to do. From my point of view, as long as sexual participants are adult, fully consenting and not distressed, not violating any laws, and are functioning in society in acceptable ways, they have a right to do as they wish.

However, once laws are violated or people are in any type of distress and social functioning is impaired then there is a problem. For example, if someone is a voyeur then, by definition, he is spying on others without their consent. This is a criminal act and, when caught, the voyeur will probably go to jail.