This cite classifies the disorder Koro as a culture-bound syndrome originating from Chinese folk culture:
But this cite describes a similar disorder occurring in Ghana, implying that this delusion is not confined to a specific culture:
So does Koro require a cultural belief in penile retraction in order for it to manifest itself? If it’s a psychiatric disorder, how do “massive outbreaks” occur? If cultural beliefs are not responsible, could it happen here?
I mentioned this hysteria in Singapore in my staff report Why does the penis shrink when it’s cold?
Any man who suspects that he might have koro is advised to put a bamboo sheath on his penis before retiring for the night.
This device prevents the genitalia from disappearing altogether while the wearer is asleep.
IIRC, a movie called American Tickler featured a segment about “Penis Snatchers from Outer Space”.
The “Outer Space” is the key part. Americans won’t fall for witchcraft stories, but we’re suckers for anything involving UFOs. Americans won’t believe their penises are being bewitched, but they might believe in alien cloning experiments and medical experimentation.
“We need a tissue sample”
“Take this. He won’t miss it.”
So that’s what this is for.
::Delta-9 quickly shuts down his computer and hurries home for “further study”::
QUICK SURVEY
Have any of the male posters here noticed any shrinkage recently?!
Well, there is a fat pad on the pubis that can sort of “envelop” the penis. Many babies are born with it and lose it as they lose their baby fat. Some don’t, and if it’s so bad the child has “buried penis” they sometimes do a fat excision so the kid has a penis you can see and enjoy.
Perhaps it’s possible that if someone gains wait in adulthood, the fat pad could increase and start “eating” the base of the penis? I dunno.
Space aliens can have my penis when they pry it from my cold, lifeless hand.
Only if Mountain Dew is involved, apparently.
If you don’t make this your new sig file, I will be very, very, very disappointed.