by Alice Bizarre

Tickling is one of those things that some find fun and others find torturous. Then there are those who find tickling such a turn on it becomes part of their own sexual norm.  Knismolagnia is what we call the arousal of tickling someone or being tickled and there is usually Top and Bottom; the Tickler and the Ticklee (often referred to as Ler and Lee).

When you think of tickling as a fetish, most would consider it being on the more obscure side, which I think is a load of crap. How many times has a little teasing and tickling been featured in flirting? Or how many moments of sexual tension have started off with tickle fighting in your average romantic comedy?  It’s not really shocking that some people include tickling as part of the sexual experience!

There are many reasons people find tickling sexy. Tickle-play can be very flirty, intimate, many get pleasure out of the physical sensation, that mental anticipation and helplessness and some enjoy the primal nature of it (we are not the only species to experience tickling and laughter). It’s even in our biology! The book ‘Intimate Confessions’, Dr Sapetti writes “Tickling releases a particular amino acid in your brain which produces a feeling of pleasure, of excitement -and even an orgasm”. Tickling can even enhance orgasms as certain areas of the body have more nerve endings and that stimulation can even cause few people to orgasm purely from tickling!

Aside from simply using your hands, there are many items that can be used to tickle such as Vibrators, Ice, Electric tooth brushes, feathers, nine tails/certain impact items used lightly across the skin and Wartenberg wheels can create tickling sensations with that extra pain/pleasure element. You can use gentle touches, heavy tickles, licking certain areas of the body can be very sensitive, blowing lightly or a big old raspberry on the belly and even just breathing behind the ear can create goosebumps!

Psychologists Arthur Allin and G. Stanley Hall (1897) wrote how there were two levels of tickling; Knismesis and Gargalesis. ‘Knismesis’ describes the light-touch type of tickling, which would refer to things like sensitivity, blowing on the neck, using feathers, sensuality etc. ‘Gargalesis’ on the other hand refers to harder tickling, with the aim to produce laughter, with higher pressure, greater reactions and found frequently in BDSM.
There is often an element of bondage (whether that be blindfolds or restraints) and a loss of control when we are tickled; we are unable to control how we react which makes it perfect as an aspect of torture, self-discipline and punishment within Sub/Dom dynamics (I’m looking at you, you naughty brats). This loss of control is also seen when a partner orgasms and becomes overly sensitive afterwards which in turn, causes them to be even more ticklish.  Heavy tickling can be included in Sado-Macso scenes with humiliation, shrieking and screaming, pain from laughing hard, pissing yourself etc. Tickle play can fall within other fetish types such as Feet and Armpit, Domination and Urination.

Tickling can be a very loving kink, one that allows trust and venerability with a partner. It’s one of those fetishes where people can have a lot of fun so whether you want to torture your partner or simply get sensual with them, try a touch of tickling and see how long they can last.

Alice Bizarre is a pro SFX makeup artist, specialising in horror looks. She also performs horror burlesque, and has been a well know face on the scene for a few years! You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook