Thanks for your thoughts on this Mike. I didn't know that these life-like dolls had received such media attention. Very interesting.
Michael Britt [email protected] http://www.thepsychfiles.com Twitter: mbritt On Jun 27, 2010, at 9:27 AM, Mike Palij wrote: > On Sun, 27 Jun 2010 05:32:52 -0700, Michael Britt wrote: >> My sister-in-law showed me her latest hobby - creating "reborn babies". >> I don't know if you have heard about this (I hadn't), but reborn babies >> are extremely realistic baby dolls (though not anatomically correct). > > A while back I caught a TV program on this that focused on both > on the producers of such dolls and buyers of such dolls. I found > an unavoidable creepiness to the enterprise, especially when the > buyers of the dolls (a) would spend ridiculous amount of money > to outfit the doll (as though they were buying clothes for a child) > and (b) the role of "surrogate" the doll played as a substitute child. > > Wikipedia has an entry on this with more background and history: > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reborn_doll > > The Wiki entry also identifies the TV shows that have focused > on it (I believe I saw "My Fake Baby"): > > |Reborn dolls have been featured in a number of television shows. > |A December 10, 2008 episode of Dr. Phil entitled "Obsessions" > |discussed the topic of reborning.[32] In January 2008, a Channel 4 > |series, My Fake Baby, explored the lives of women who collect > |the lifelike baby dolls.[4] Featuring this documentary the British > |television magazine show on Channel 4, Richard and Judy, held > |an interview with the reborn artist in the documentary Janie Eaton, > |a collector Mary Flint, and psychiatrist Raj Persuad.[29] On > |January 2, 2009 an ABC News article described both the > |manufacturing and the emotional interaction of reborn dolls.[11], > |while a January 2, 20/20 episode talked about the mothering > |process and attachment to reborns.[33]. On January 31, 2008 > |Inside Edition aired a segment showing artist Eve Newsom and her > |reborn dolls.[34] > >> When she handed one of these baby dolls to me I had a mix of >> feelings, including the desire to be very careful to hold it "correctly" >> and make sure to support its head because it felt so real. She said >> that when she takes the babies places people are completely fooled >> because the details are so realistic - down to skin patches, hair >> and spittle on the lips. Schools should use these kinds of >> dolls instead of sacks of flour or rice to give kids an idea of what >> its like to have to carry a baby around. Then again, maybe they >> shouldn't because the dolls really seemed to bring out the maternal >> instincts in my mother and daughter. Here are a few pictures: >> http://www.flickr.com/photos/psychfiles/sets/72157624367700576/ >> Wondering if there is psychological connection here? > > There probably is but I wonder if any systematic research has been > done on this. If my memory serves, makers of the dolls tend to have > chlidren who treat the dolls, well, like dolls. The buyers of such dolls, > don't seem to have children. If they do have children, I wonder what > the children's reactions are. I have the feeling that childless women > and couples are the primary consumers of this product and the issue > might be "is treating an inanimate object like a person a good thing > or a bad thing" (but this raises the question of how this applies to > adult sex dolls) as well as is this compensation for not having children. > In the later case, it seems to me that some women treat pets like their > children which seems like a displacement process to me. I think it > is perhaps most troubling for the children of women who buy such > dolls, even grown adult children might be affected. > > -Mike Palij > New York University > [email protected] > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13405.0125141592fa9ededc665c55d9958f69&n=T&l=tips&o=3331 > or send a blank email to > leave-3331-13405.0125141592fa9ededc665c55d9958...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=3355 or send a blank email to leave-3355-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
