They are called Kim, Sofia or Lily France's first real sex doll rental facility opened on 1 February in the 14th arrondissement of Paris. To find out why some men like to have intimate relationships with these objects, 20 Minutes spoke to psychologist and sexologist Nathalie Parein.

Why are men allowed to have sex with dolls?

It's a way of satisfying fantasies in a one-sided way. As a result, it is something close to masturbation, with an object that simulates the female body. The advantage for some people is that it avoids all the negatives associated with sex, such as breakdowns, relationship difficulties, misunderstandings, physical inadequacies

Sex can sometimes be complicated. With dolls or sex robots, we are alone with an object that we manipulate and that is not responsive or programmed. It's convenient for people who don't want to face reality.

What types of profiles do these men have?

There are several profiles. While being careful to avoid any stereotypes, we can assume that the people attracted to this approach will be very introverted people who have difficulty establishing a relationship with someone. Then there are those who have fantasies and appreciate being able to do what they want with this type of object.

Today, their use is very limited and it pushes a lot of people that this type of object will not be used routinely tomorrow. But their use may have been initially out of curiosity or fashion effect.

Sex dolls in real life

Some people go to this place as a couple. What does this reveal?

Here, too, it is a fantasy. There is a desire to discover something else, for example when you go to a debauched club. It's a way of bringing a bit of fantasy and novelty into the relationship. Different forms of sexuality can co-exist in a couple.

There are now more advanced dolls, robots, that can say "no" to the person using them. What does it say to you?

B It's embarrassing. Of course, it's just a robot, but it gives a poor image of a woman referring to the idea of rape and therefore the lack of consent in a sexual relationship. We don't know what psychological effect this will have on people who use such robots regularly. It has a negative impact on the concept of sexual relations.

Everything is done so that these objects look more and more like a person, which can cause confusion. It should not be converted into reality. Some people see it as a therapeutic tool. On the contrary, I think it only reinforces certain fantasies. The problem is that there is currently no legal framework. There is nothing prohibiting the use of this type of object. It is true that we must respect everyone's freedom, but at the same time it is important to consider the restrictions that may exist if there is a risk of transgression, a real moral issue. Nowadays the dolls are high quality sex dolls, they come in various types, from elf sex dolls, anime sex dolls, big ass sex dolls, curvy sex dolls, they can be very good for our needs and fantasies, they can be very sexually arousing. It is very helpful for us.