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Psychological Functioning of Bondage/Domination/SadoMasochism (BDSM) Practitioners
Abstract
A demographic questionnaire and 7 psychometric tests were administered to 32 self-identified Bondage/Domination/SadoMasochism (BDSM) practitioners. Although psychoanalytic literature suggests that high levels of certain types of psychopathology should be prevalent among BDSM practitioners, this sample failed to produce widespread, high levels of psychopathology on psychometric measures of depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsion, psychological sadism, psychological masochism, or PTSD. In fact, on measures of clinical psychopathology and severe personality pathology, this sample appeared to be comparable to both published test norms and to DSM-IV-TR estimates for the general population. There were, however, some exceptions to this general pattern, most notably the higher-than-average levels of narcissism and nonspecific dissociative symptoms found in the sample. This study also raises significant concern about the appropriateness of the diagnosis of sexual masochism and sadism in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association or, minimally, the diagnostic criteria of these disorders.
... In fact, the prevalence rates of men who self-identify as BDSM practitioners varies between 2.2% and 7.6% (De Neef et al., 2019). In addition, while BDSM practitioners often engage in sexually sadistic activities (e.g., body torture: 46.8%; humiliation: 34.6%), their sexual repertoire is not limited to sexual sadism (Connoly, 2006;Stiles & Clark, 2011;Taylor & Ussher, 2001). ...
... In addition, the intensity of involvement in BDSM practices is positively correlated with the level of education (Coppens et al., 2020). Finally, a majority (67.7%) of BDSM practitioners work in professional fields (Connoly, 2006). ...
... In terms of relationships, a significant proportion of BDSM practitioners are involved in a stable intimate relationship (Connoly, 2006;Landgraf et al., 2018). Furthermore, they are secure in their relationship and not sensitive to rejection (Wismeijer & Van Assen, 2013). ...
... Hence, the behavior involved in BDSM sexual encounters must not necessarily be considered aggressive and should clearly be distinguished from sexual coercion (Martin et al. 2016). In line with this reasoning, research has found only small differences in social functioning (Sandnabba, Santtila, and Nordling 1999) and psychopathological factors (such as depression, obsessive compulsion, personality disorders, or accentuations) between individuals who do and do not practice BDSM (Connolly 2006;Martin et al. 2016). ...
... There are several reasons underpinning this assumption: First, the links between aggressive sexual fantasies and accordant behavior have been consistent and strong in different samples from the general population and samples of sex offenders in previous research (Bondü and Birke 2020;Dean and Malamuth 1997;Knight and Sims-Knight 2003), making it unlikely that there would be no links whatsoever in samples including participants with BDSM likings. This reasoning is supported by research that has yielded little evidence for differences between individuals with and without such likings (Connolly 2006;Martin et al. 2016). Second, fantasies are thought to mark sexual preferences that are difficult or impossible to alter. ...
... The two groups did not differ in self-reported negative attitudes towards sexual fantasies. In line with previous research (Connolly 2006;Martin et al. 2016), they also did not differ in physical aggression, hostility, psychopathy, and empathy. Finally, participants with BDSM identity reported significantly more presumably non-consensual aggressive sexual behavior than participants without such identity. ...
Recent research provides evidence that aggressive sexual fantasies predict aggressive sexual behavior in the gen- eral population. However, sexual fantasies including fantasies about the infliction of pain and humiliation, should be frequent and often consensually acted upon among individuals with sadomasochistic likings. The question arises whether sexual fantasies with aggressive content still predict presumably non-consensual ag- gressive sexual behavior in individuals with sadomasochistic likings, given that BDSM encounters are generally considered consensual. To investigate this question, we conducted a questionnaire survey of sexual fantasies, as - sessing the frequency of seventy sexual fantasies involving non-aggressive, masochistic, and aggressive acts. Our sample (N = 182) contained 99 respondents who self-identified as sadist, masochist, or switcher; 44 reported no such identification. For respondents reporting BDSM identification, we replicated a factor structure for sexual fantasies similar to that previously found in the general population, including three factors reflecting fantasies about increasingly severe aggressive sexual acts. Fantasies about injuring a partner and/or using weapons and fantasies about sexual coercion predicted presumably non-consensual sexual behavior independently of other risk factors for aggressive sexual behavior and irrespective of BDSM identification. Hence, severely aggressive sexual fantasies may predispose to presumably non-consensual sexual behavior in both individuals with and without BDSM identification.
... However, the link between BDSM (including m/s) and psychopathology is generally based on unproven, largely subjective theories (e.g., Holtzman & Kulish, 2012;Hucker, 2008) and/or studies conducted with samples of clinical participants (Hopkins et al., 2016; see also Blos, 1991;Blum, 1991;Hall, 2014;Rothstein, 1991;Thomas-Peter & Humphreys, 1997). Studies conducted with nonclinical samples of participants commonly fail to find a link between m/s practices and psychopathology (Connolly, 2006;Cross & Matheson, 2006;Gemberling et al., 2015;Wismeijer & Assen, 2013; see also Baumeister & Butler, 1997 for a classic but often overlooked chapter on the subject). Castellini et al. (2018), for instance, demonstrated that a link between m/s behaviors and psychopathology among female university students disappears after controlling for hypersexuality. ...
... Castellini et al. (2018), for instance, demonstrated that a link between m/s behaviors and psychopathology among female university students disappears after controlling for hypersexuality. BDSM practitioners, including practitioners of m/s, have, on average, obtained significantly higher levels of education than adults in the general population (Bienvenu et al., 2005;Botta et al., 2019;Breslow et al., 1986;Connolly, 2006;Gemberling et al., 2015;Levitt et al., 1994;Moser & Levitt, 1987;Sandnabba et al., 1999;Spengler, 1977;Taylor & Ussher, 2001;Wismeijer & Assen, 2013;Yost & Hunter, 2012). While higher education certainly does not prevent psychopathological symptoms (especially during the time it is being obtained, Hunt & Eisenberg, 2010), rates of major mental disorders are lower among adults who have university diplomas than among those who do not (e.g., ESEMeD/MHEDEA 2000Investigators et al., 2004. ...
... It is, however, interesting to note that sexually submissive persons report, on average, significantly more signs of psychological difficulties than those who are sexually dominant, although these difficulties occur at subclinical levels and are usually related to anxiety, worry, and self-esteem (Bienvenu et al., 2005;Botta et al., 2019;Connolly, 2006;Damon, 2001;Gemberling et al., 2015;Gosselin & Wilson, 1980;Hébert & Weaver, 2015;Wismeijer & Assen, 2013). Certain individuals also report that BDSM, and particularly m/s behaviors, have therapeutic effects (Easton, 2007;Graham et al., 2016;Lindemann, 2011). ...
A growing number of studies have demonstrated that BDSM (Bondage/Discipline-Domination/Submission-Sadism/Masochism) practices are not signs of mental illness. However, the reasons for engaging in such behaviors are not well understood, especially for sexual masochism or submission (m/s). A thorough review of the literature was conducted, as well as a search in Internet forums and an online survey to obtain testimonies that provide information on the origins of interest in m/s and the reasons for engaging in it. A qualitative content analysis was performed on narratives from 227 m/s practitioners. Sixteen themes emerged from this analysis, eight related to the origins of interest in m/s and eight to the reasons for engaging in m/s. The origins described were seen as either intrinsic or extrinsic. Reasons to engage in m/s were related to one of three main types of activities: use of interpersonal power; experiencing physical pain; and altering one’s state of mind. These results concord with accounts found in non-academic books and small-scale studies suggesting that m/s interests are often present early in life and usually practiced to reach an altered state of mind associated with sexual arousal. Possible reasons for choosing m/s over more common means of mind alteration are discussed.
... Their findings indicated no differences between the kink and non-kink groups on multiple measures of psychopathology, measures of anti-feminist beliefs, or escapism. Connolly (2006) conducted a study of 132 self-identified BDSM practitioners, using a battery of seven commonly used selfreport measures of psychopathology: the MMPI-2, MCMI-III, the Trauma Symptom Inventory, the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale, the Multiscale Dissociation Inventory, the BDI-II, and the BAI. Participants tested in the normal range for depression; some indication of lower anxiety than the general population; within the normal range for PTSD; higher levels of dissociative symptoms but not DID; and higher levels of narcissism, but within the normal range for borderline and paranoia symptoms. ...
... Participants tested in the normal range for depression; some indication of lower anxiety than the general population; within the normal range for PTSD; higher levels of dissociative symptoms but not DID; and higher levels of narcissism, but within the normal range for borderline and paranoia symptoms. Connolly (2006) noted that dissociative symptoms were not clearly related to any specific psychopathology in the study; and that scores on narcissism measures may include personality strengths as well as personality pathology. ...
... Several studies have noted that non-heterosexual people are more likely to report involvement in BDSM and kink (Cross & Matheson, 2006;Connolly, 2006;Pitagora, 2016;Waldura et al. 2016;Sprott & Benoit, 2017). It is unclear whether this indicates something about the dynamics and qualities of sexuality per se (van Anders, 2015), or if this phenomenon is a result of stigmatizing processes affecting sexual minorities and sexual majority populations differently (Damm et al, 2018). ...
Created by a team of clinicians and researchers (19 members), the practice guidelines presents the current best knowledge and practices for working with clients and patients who have strong interests in kink sexuality, who are kink-identified, or who are involved in fetish, BDSM, leather or kink communities.
... Sadismus und Narzissmus stellen drei Studien fest. Bei Connolly (2006) erreichten 30% der Sadomasochisten Werte, die auf eine narzisstische Persönlichkeitsstörung hindeuten. Diese Prävalenz ist deutlich höher als in der Bevölkerung (Stinson et al., 2008). ...
... Diese Prävalenz ist deutlich höher als in der Bevölkerung (Stinson et al., 2008). Connolly (2006) verwendete das MCMI-III, dessen Narzissmus-Skala mit 24 Items vor allem grandiosen Narzissmus misst. ...
... Für die Messung des Sadomasochismus wurde die Selbstkategorisierung der Teilnehmer verwendet. Die 123 Sadomasochisten waren zu 55% männlich und durchschnittlich 43 Jahre alt (Connolly, 2006). Der Befund wird dahingehend interpretiert, dass 30% der Sadomasochisten überdurchschittlich grandiosnarzisstisch sind, was aber nichts über die Störungswertigkeit der Ausprägung aussagt. ...
Research examines how gender and several facets of narcissism predict sexual-sadism arousal. According to Back et al. (2013) facet „admiration“ aims to boost and facet „rivalry“ protect the narcissistic-grandiose self. Both facets refer to grandiose naricissism, nevertheless associations between rivalry and malignant-vulnerable narcissism are obvious. Naricisstic achievement motive seems to be a meaningful theoretical addition. Watts, Nagel, Latzman and Lilienfeld (2019) demonstrate there are some single facets that aren´t associated with sadism. This research assumes narcissists use sadism to gain self-affirmation. Therefore especial correlations between sadism and admiration are expected. In this online-survey sadism is quantified by „Sadomasochism-Checklist“ (Weierstall & Giebel, 2017). Naricissism is operationalized by „Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire“ (Back et al. 2013) and successful narcissism (Shiban, 2019). The sample (N = 346) includes notably percentage of homo- and bisexual participants. In multiple regression model gender has major effect. Admiration and rivalry predict sadism smiliar to each other. Successful narcissism has no significant effect. Data analysis also confirms there are no correlation between sadism and clinical parameters. Findings illustrate narcissism basically include vulnerable-malignant and grandiose facets, so both predict sadism evenly. Despite correlation between sexual self-affirmation and sadism there are presumably further functions. All in all results could be interpreted either by conditioning paradigmas or psychoanalytically by grandiose and destructive impulses. Otherwise sadism could be a predisposed mating-strategy, which is adaptive within a dominant-narcissistic personality.
... Other terms that we use include cock and ball torture (CBT), as a paraphilic sexual activity involving the infl iction of pain to the genitals. Each of the BDSM subcategories (as defined by Connolly, 2006) appear often within the stories. The abbreviations D, S, and M have overlapping and multi ple definitions in BDSM practices: Bondage & Domination (B&D), Dominance/Submission (D/s), Sadomasochism, and/or Master/slave (SM) (Moser & Kleinplatz, 2007;Pitagora, 2013). ...
... According to Kleinplatz and Moser (2006), BDSM practices include: the adoption of the dominant or submissive role that facilitate discipline, dominance and submission to facilitate a clear power dynamic, physical pain, and humiliation. Explicit consent is considered fundamental to voluntary BDSM activ ities (Connolly, 2006;Taylor & Ussher, 2001;Yost, 2010) and distinguishes BDSM interactions from pathological acts of violence (Moser & Kleinplatz, 2007). In the EA stories D/s rela tionships are recognized by the power one character has over the other ( cf . ...
... Usually it comes about through influence by the antagonist or long-term partner. Th e fantasy aspect of the stories is illustrated by the lack of explicit consent, which BDSM literature presents as fluid and may be rescinded at any time (Beres, 2007;Connolly, 2006;Pitagora, 2013). In 63 (69%) stories the protagonist has initially little or no premonition that his genitals would be destroyed. ...
The Eunuch Archive (EA) is a website where registered members can post for others to read and rate sexual fantasies that involve genital mutilation and ablation. The EA includes over 8,000 stories. We have previously explored common features of 100 top-rated EA stories. We reasoned that understanding such fantasies may be a step toward recognizing who is at risk of irreversible injury should they act out their fantasies. Here we explore the top-rated EA stories in the context of well-established models for human sexual response. We argue the archetypal storyline from these fantasies, which are characterized by extreme sadomasochism (SM), can be interpreted and understood within the context of these established sexual response models, but we note several ways the fantasies diverge from such models. The stories closely fit the classic Masters and Johnson model, but with a protracted plateau phase resolved with pleasure and pain heightened. Even though the central character in all the stories is a male, the stories align well with the Basson intimacy-based model more characteristic of female motivations to be sexually active. In the fantasies, the central character is willing to sacrifice everything short of his life to develop or strengthen a dyadic relationship. In all the stories, castration is depicted with a sensory intensity equivalent to orgasm. The stories reveal what is both natural and pathological in extreme SM fantasies. They also reveal similarities between female sexual desire and the desire for genital ablation which has not, to the best of our knowledge, been previously elucidated.
... The myths and stereotypes surrounding the culture and subcultures of the Kink community have greatly impacted its members (Wright, 2008b). Among these myths are common beliefs that Kink-oriented individuals are deviant or mentally ill, tend to be violent or emotionally unstable, perpetuate the subjugation of women, are unable to have stable and healthy relationships, and tend to be uneducated (Bezreh et al., 2012;Connolly, 2006;Cross & Matheson, 2006;Gemberling, Cramer, Wright, & Nobels, 2015;Klement et al., 2016;Lin, 2016;Wright, 2006). These myths have been perpetuated beyond social stigma into misguided practice by helping professionals (Bezreh et al., 2012;Connolly, 2006;Gemberling et al., 2015;Sandnabba, Santtila, Alison, & Nordling, 2002;Sprott, Randall, Davison, Cannon, & Witherspoon, 2017;Richters, Visser, Rissel, Grulich, & Smith, 2008;Waldura, Arora, Randall, Farala, & Sprott, 2016;Wismeijer & van Assen, 2013;Wright, 2006). ...
... Among these myths are common beliefs that Kink-oriented individuals are deviant or mentally ill, tend to be violent or emotionally unstable, perpetuate the subjugation of women, are unable to have stable and healthy relationships, and tend to be uneducated (Bezreh et al., 2012;Connolly, 2006;Cross & Matheson, 2006;Gemberling, Cramer, Wright, & Nobels, 2015;Klement et al., 2016;Lin, 2016;Wright, 2006). These myths have been perpetuated beyond social stigma into misguided practice by helping professionals (Bezreh et al., 2012;Connolly, 2006;Gemberling et al., 2015;Sandnabba, Santtila, Alison, & Nordling, 2002;Sprott, Randall, Davison, Cannon, & Witherspoon, 2017;Richters, Visser, Rissel, Grulich, & Smith, 2008;Waldura, Arora, Randall, Farala, & Sprott, 2016;Wismeijer & van Assen, 2013;Wright, 2006). ...
... One such myth of kink is the belief that Kink-oriented individuals tend to be mentally ill or sexually deviant. According to recent studies, the Kink population samples seem to exhibit equivalent or healthier levels of depression, selfesteem, sexual difficulties, obsession-compulsion, attachment styles, posttraumatic stress, family background, personality disorders, anxiety, and overall risk for mental instability (Connolly, 2006;Cross & Matheson, 2006;Gemberling et al., 2015;Sandnabba et al., 2002;Richters et al., 2008;Wismeijer & van Assen, 2013). The prevalence of common mental disorders such as mood and stress disorders shows little to no difference across populations with slight exceptions for members of the LGBTQ community, as also seen in the general population (Wismeijer & van Assen, 2013). ...
This article reports a Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) analysis of the experiences of 12 participants who identified as LGB and received counseling that addressed religious/spiritual foci. Participants identified two primary and intersecting themes including an increased sense of agency and locus of control, as well as increased cognitive flexibility. Additional subthemes included manifestation of agency and locus of control intrapersonally, interpersonally, and globally. Subthemes of cognitive flexibility were also identified intrapersonally, interpersonally, and globally. Implications are discussed for counseling, counselor education, and future research.
... BDSM A variety of BDSM subcategories (as defined by Connolly, 2006) appear within the stories. We recognize that abbreviations D, S, and M have overlapping and multiple definitions: Bondage & Discipline (B&D), Dominance/ Submission (D/s), Sadomasochism and/or Master/slave (SM) relationships (Moser & Kleinplatz, 2007;Pitagora, 2013). ...
... According to Kleinplatz and Moser (2006), actual BDSM practices include the adoption of a dominant or submissive role with a clear power dynamic to facilitate discipline, physical pain, and humiliation. Explicit consent is considered fundamental to voluntary BDSM activities (Connolly, 2006;Taylor & Ussher, 2001;Yost, 2010) and distinguishes BDSM interactions from pathological acts of violence (Moser & Kleinplatz, 2007). ...
The Eunuch Archive (EA) is an online community which includes individuals who read and write sexual fantasies with themes related to castration and eunuchs. Here we analyzed the 100 stories rated highest by EA readers among the >8800 currently posted. Our goal was to gain insights into commonalities within, and specifics of, castration sexual fantasies. Simply stated, we want to know what the authors (and readers) fantasize about and why. The most popular EA stories link sexual gratification and romantic partnership with genital abuse. They are characterized by the absence of consent for genital ablations and multiple SM-related paraphilias. Many stories feature attraction to, and ablation of, the genitals of pubescent or adolescent males. Some EA members have acted on their interests and been voluntarily castrated. Others wish to be. The most popular stories in the EA collection typically link the sacrifice via SM abuse to securing a permanent sexual partnership. The idea of sacrificing one’s genitals to build dyadic adhesion has been noted before in individuals with extreme castration ideations. Here we identify the common features of sexualized fantasies that are popular among individuals with exceptional interest in castration.
... BDSM practices have been reported to be more common among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) identified people (Richters et al., 2008). Research has consistently suggested that those with higher educational levels (e.g., Alison et al., 2001;Botta et al., 2019;Connolly, 2006;Gemberling et al., 2015;Traeen, 2016;Wismeijer & Van Assen, 2013) and older age were more represented in BDSM communities (Alison et al., 2001), though these findings have not been replicated in all studies (e.g., Richters et al., 2008). Further, BDSM has long been associated with higher socio-economic classes (Simula, 2019). ...
... In general, this lack of association with gender contrasts with previous research, which found gender differences in that more men are likely to engage in and be aroused by BDSM (Dawson et al., 2016;Holvoet et al., 2017;Mundy & Cioe, 2019;Richters et al., 2008). The lack of significant findings in terms of educational level also differed from much of the literature (e.g., Alison et al., 2001;Botta et al., 2019;Connolly, 2006;Gemberling et al., 2015;Traeen, 2016;Wismeijer & Van Assen, 2013), and these studies were conducted in diverse countries, including Italy, the United States, Finland, the Netherlands, and Norway. Thus, our null finding is likely not due to cultural differences and/or differences in educational attainment levels between countries, though it could be due to a ceiling effect, as nearly 65% of the participants had at least a bachelor's degree. ...
This national web-population study from Norway (N = 4,148) assessed 1) the prevalence of BDSM and role-play interests and behaviors, 2) the socio-demographic characteristics of the BDSM-oriented participants, and 3) the associations between a) BDSM and b) role-play interests and behaviors, and sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, and relationship closeness. Over one in three study participants endorsed at least one BDSM interest or behavior variable. There were no gender nor educational level differences between the BDSM-oriented participants and their traditional "vanilla" (non-BDSM-oriented) counterparts, though BDSM and interests were more common among younger and self-identified LGBQ+ participants. Sexual satisfaction was positively associated with role-play and BDSM behaviors while interest in role-play (but not having previously engaged in it) was negatively associated with this outcome. Lower relationship closeness was associated with an interest in role-play (but not having tried it). No BDSM-related variables were significantly associated with relationship closeness. The findings suggest that BDSM interests and behaviors are relatively common and are linked with sexual and relationship satisfaction.
... It revolves around sexual activities including the negotiation of power dynamics and the administration of physical or psychological pain (Sagarin, Cutler, Cutler, Lawler-Sagarin and Matuszewich, 2009). Within the BDSM community there is a great deal of emphasis on the importance of consent (Connolly, 2006;Pitagora, 2013). A common mantra in the BDSM community is 'Safe, Sane, and Consensual'. ...
... The narrative that practitioners of BDSM arrive at their sexual preferences as a result of childhood abuse or trauma and may become abusers themselves is a tired stereotype. In fact, studies (Connolly, 2006;Rogak and Connor, 2018) showcase that across most psychopathological measures, BDSM practitioners score no differently than members of a control population. ...
This article interrogates the ideological messages concerning alternative sexuality furthered through Fifty Shades of Grey merchandise. Using critical political economy of media and feminist political economy of media as frameworks, the analysis is framed within a discussion regarding women's empowerment and sexual wellbeing. The corporate interests producing both the Fifty Shades of Grey film trilogy, the narrative's representation of BDSM relationships, and the official merchandise are examined to determine how the franchise reflects corporate interests and ideological goals. Next, exemplary merchandise is analysed to question how the products may or may not support the ideological and financial goals of corporate interests. The conclusion finds that the merchandise, working in tandem with the texts themselves and corporate intentions, spreads potentially dangerous misinformation about alternative sexualities (e.g. BDSM), reifies consumption as the avenue toward empowerment and sexual satisfaction, and highlights dangerous heteronormative ideologies which marginalize non-normative sexualities and romance.
... Paraphilia is "an intense and persistent sexual interest other than an interest in genital stimulation or preparatory fondling with phenotypically normal physically mature, consenting human partners" [1]. Common subtypes of paraphilic behavior include "Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, Sadism and Masochism," which in short, are widely known as BDSM [2,3]. Importantly, the large majority of individuals who are into BDSM would not fulfill the diagnostic criteria of paraphilic disorder which requires distress or harm to be present [1]. ...
The current study investigated the associations between sexually submissive and dominant behaviors and sexual dysfunction in Finnish men and women. We analyzed three population-based data sets from 2006, 2009, and 2021–2022, including 29,821 participants in total. Participants filled out a questionnaire about their sexually submissive and dominant behaviors, Sexual Distress Scale, Checklist for Early Ejaculation Symptoms and International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire-5 (men), and Female Sexual Function Index (women). Pearson Correlations showed that for both sexes, sexually submissive (men: r = 0.119, p < 0.001; women: r = 0.175, p < 0.001) and dominant (men: r = 0.150, p < 0.001; women: r = 0.147, p < 0.001) behaviors were both associated with more sexual distress. However, for men, sexually submissive (r = −0.126, p < 0.001) and dominant behaviors (r = −0.156, p < 0.001) were associated with less early ejaculation symptoms. Both sexually submissive (r = 0.040, p = 0.026) and dominant behaviors (r = 0.062, p < 0.001) were also associated with better erectile function while sexually dominant behavior alone was associated with better orgasmic function (r = 0.049, p = 0.007), intercourse satisfaction (r = 0.068, p < 0.001), and overall satisfaction (r = 0.042, p = 0.018). For women, both sexually submissive (r = 0.184, p < 0.001) and dominant behaviors (r = 0.173, p < 0.001) were also associated with better overall female sexual function. One possible explanation is that these individuals have a clear idea of what they prefer sexually facilitating arousal. Particularly, sexually submissive behavior may reduce high-level self-awareness and, in this way, contribute to reduced performance anxiety. However, non-normative interests seem to simultaneously result in increased sexual distress probably due to the absence of self-acceptance. Further research about the causal mechanisms between non-normative sexual interest and sexual function is needed.
... Several studies have noted that non-heterosexual people are more likely to report involvement in BDSM and kink [11][12][13][14][15]. It is unclear whether this indicates something about the dynamics and qualities of queer sexuality per se [16 •], or if this phenomenon is a result of stigmatizing processes affecting sexual minority and sexual majority populations differently [17]. ...
Purpose of Review
This review summarizes recent empirical work concerning the intersection of BDSM or kink sexualities and LGBTQ+ sexual orientation populations. This review helps clinicians understand how kink behaviors may have positive impacts on clients and patients.
Recent Findings
Several studies have noted that non-heterosexual people are more likely to report involvement in BDSM and kink. Studies have documented motivations for kink that include desires for peak experiences, healing from past trauma, increased intimacy, and exploration of the self. A particular aspect of psychological well-being, autonomy, appears to be an empowering aspect commonly experienced by LGBTQ+ people engaged in BDSM.
Summary
There is some indication in the literature that LGBTQ+ individuals are more likely than heterosexuals to be involved in alternative sexuality practices such as kink, or are more likely to disclose their involvement. Motivations to engage in kink behaviors include motivations towards personal growth and self-actualization, as well as using kink for self-regulation of levels of stimulation, arousal, anxiety, or depression. These indicate that kink can have positive effects on people’s health.
... In addition, it can be hypothesized that those with sexually sadistic interests that they never act upon do not have the underlying grievance that characterizes the overt criminal sexual sadist or vindictive or pervasively angry rapists. This hypothesis also potentially applies to practitioners of BDSM (bondage-discipline, dominancesubmission, sadism, masochism) that is not directed at non-consenting victims and is not therefore forensically relevant: BDSM practitioners are typically well socially adapted and have healthy personality profiles, have stable intimate relationships, and are not sensitive to rejection (Connoly, 2006;Wismeijer and Van Assen, 2013;Landgraf et al., 2018;De Neef et al., 2019;Brown et al., 2020). In other words, BDSM that is not forensically relevant is not grievance-fueled. ...
The grievance fueled violence paradigm encompasses various forms of targeted violence but has not yet been extended to the theoretical discussion of sexual violence. In this article, we argue that a wide range of sexual offenses can be usefully conceptualized as forms of grievance fueled violence. Indeed, our assertion that sexual violence is often grievance fueled is unoriginal. More than 40 years of sexual offending research has discussed the pseudosexual nature of much sexual offending, and themes of anger, power, and control – themes that draw clear parallels to the grievance fueled violence paradigm. Therefore, we consider the opportunities for theoretical and practical advancement through the merging of ideas and concepts from the two fields. We examine the scope of grievance in the context of understanding sexual violence, and we look to the role of grievance in the trajectory toward both sexual and nonsexual violence, as well as factors that might distinguish grievance fueled sexual from nonsexual violence. Finally, we discuss future research directions and make recommendations for clinical practice. Specifically, we suggest that grievance represents a promising treatment target where risk is identified for both sexual and nonsexual violence.
... Individuals engaging in BDSM can be classified as a dominant (exerting control over a partner), a submissive (relinquishing control to a dominant) and a switch (alternating between both roles depending on a situation) (Wismeijer & van Assen, 2013). Despite being widely diverse in practices, it appears that the administration of pain is a distinctive feature of BDSM as evidenced in the fact that the five most popular activities are bondage, whipping, spanking, nipple torture and paddling respectively (Connolly, 2006). ...
Cosmetic surgery is a thriving industry worldwide and Thailand is one of the market leaders. However, research which has explored issues concerning cosmetic surgery largely focuses on that of females. Moreover, it revolves around surveying clients, either quantitatively or qualitatively, rather than investigating the text which they consume. Even among the studies examining such text, they are predominantly conducted with the text published in offline media and within a Western context.
Therefore, the current study seeks to address such knowledge gaps by concentrating on online texts which male clients possibly consult for cosmetic surgery in Thailand. Since it is required by law that cosmetic surgery be conducted within authorised medical establishments, Thai cosmetic hospitals play a vital role in pursuing particular discursive strategies to communicate with clients. It is those strategies which the present study intends to investigate. To be exact, it intends to answer the following research questions: (1) What discursive strategies are employed by Thai cosmetic hospitals to propagate the ideologies about cosmetic surgery for masculinity enhancement? and (2) How do such strategies operate?
To answer the first question, the present study employs Van Dijk’s conception of the ideological square. It consists of how to: (1) emphasise our good things, (2) de-emphasise our bad things, (3) emphasise their bad things and (4) de-emphasise their good things. This framework is useful in providing a general principle of how hospitals are likely to communicate with clients. However, an additional issue may arise with regard to, for example, in which way hospitals actually emphasise the good things of cosmetic surgery. Such an issue connects with the second research question. Hence, the other framework, Taylor’s six-segment message strategy model, comes into play by functioning as a specific tool to answer it. The model consists of the ego, social, sensory, routine, acute need, and ration message strategies.
Methodologically, the present study utilises a corpus-assisted discourse analysis which amalgamates a quantitative method (the identification of significant keywords and collocations) into a qualitative analysis (the investigation of data extracts containing those significant lexical items). The corpus consists of the English version of webpage content belonging to 20 Thai hospitals with a total number of 73,168 words.
The findings reveal that, firstly, to emphasise the good things of cosmetic surgery, hospitals implement the ego, social, sensory and ration strategies. Secondly, to de-emphasise the bad things of post-operative complications, hospitals employ the ration strategy. Thirdly, to emphasise the bad things of not undergoing cosmetic surgery, hospitals adopt the ego strategy. Fourthly, to de-emphasise the good things of other means which are perceived as a rival to cosmetic surgery, hospitals pursue the ego and ration strategies. Overall, a preponderance of these strategies revolves around the notion of masculinity, which is conceptualised as the ideology concerning how to feel like a man, act like a man and have a body touted as a man.
The current study makes a theoretical and practical contribution. Theoretically, it is among the first which triangulates the discourse and the communication frameworks to analyse gender-related discourse pertaining to cosmetic surgery for masculinity enhancement in the Thai context. Practically, it hopes to raise awareness and promote media literacy among male clients about how cosmetic hospitals manifest and medicalise the ideology of masculinity via their online platforms.
... Finally, sadistic sex offenders are known to have more mental health problems than the general population, which is not the case for Academic Journal of Criminology X Journal Universitaire de Criminologie • 2022 Sexual sadism: not a one size t all! 6 individuals who engage in consensual sexual sadism (Longpré et al., 2018;Proulx & Beauregard, 2014). In fact, Connolly (2006) suggested that, although an individual who engages in consensual sexual sadism may suffer from a paraphilic disorder, he or she does not present more mental health problems than the general population. ...
For a long time, the practice of sexual sadism was considered deviant and disturbing since it would ultimately lead to the commission of a sexual offense. Many films, television series, documentaries, and crime novels have been dominating popular culture for decades and continue to reinforce this collective imagination that a sexual sadism interest should be seen as the symptom of a disturbing and violent future sexual offense. But is it really the case? Are people practicing sexual sadism necessarily future offenders and/or pathological individuals? Such an interpretation of sexual sadism leaves little room for understanding it as potentially consensual and enjoyable for participants. This scientific popularization paper directly addresses this issue and brings some nuance to this long-dichotomized approach on sexual sadism. We will begin by exploring what consensual sexual sadism is, the characteristics of its participants and the social reaction to this type of sexual activity. We will then explore what coercive sexual sadism is, its manifestations and the profile of these offenders. Finally, even though consensual sexual sadism shares similarities with coercive sexual sadism, we will explore the many divergences that exist between the two
... Individuals with paraphilic interests represent a diverse group with both positive and negative adjustment patterns (Connolly, 2006;Lodi-Smith et al., 2014). Paraphilias have been linked with a range of psychosexual and criminogenic outcomes, including sexual violence, antisociality, and mental health conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety) (Baur et al., 2016;Bradford & Ahmed, 2014;Chan et al., 2015;Fedora et al., 1992;Långström & Hanson, 2006;Lodi-Smith et al., 2014). ...
Little is known about distinct factors linked with acting on paraphilic interests or refraining from engaging in paraphilic behaviors. Participants from Canada and the United States ( N = 744), aged 19–42 years ( M = 29.2; SD = 3.18), were recruited through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. Participants completed questionnaires about their paraphilic interests and behaviors, as well as potential key factors linked to behavioral engagement (i.e., perceptions of consent, sexual excitation/inhibition, impulsivity, moral disengagement, empathy). Results indicated that higher moral disengagement and impulsivity, lower sexual control (i.e., high sexual excitation, low sexual inhibition), and maladaptive understandings of consent were best able to differentiate individuals who reported highly stigmatized (e.g., hebephilia, pedophilia, coprophilia) or Bondage and Dicipline, Dominance and Submission, Sadism and Masochism(BDSM)/Fetish paraphilic interests and engagement in the paraphilic behaviours associated with these interests relative to individuals who did not report such paraphilic interests or behaviors. Moreover, higher moral disengagement, impulsivity, and maladaptive perceptions of consent were best able to differentiate non-consensual paraphilic interests and behaviours (e.g., voyeurism, exhibitionism) compared to individuals who did not report these paraphilic interests or behaviours. These results provide future directions for the exploration of mechanisms that may contribute to engagement in paraphilic behaviors and may be targets for intervention aimed at preventing engagement in potentially harmful paraphilias.
... BDSM community members tend to be afraid of being outed, or exposed, to their family, friends, or workplace because they do not have any type of protections against discrimination; they could be fired from jobs just for participating in BDSM activities (Keenan, 2014). Although BDSM community members' willingness to disclose their interests to others ranges widely, there has been a pattern in previous research showing that the majority feel some level of discomfort about their involvement in BDSM activities being discovered by others and often conceal their involvement in BDSM activities as a form of self-protection (Bezreh et al., 2012;Connolly, 2006;Holt, 2016;Hughes & Hammack, 2019;Kolmes et al, 2006;Stiles & Clark, 2011;Waldura et al, 2016;Wright, 2006); this pattern seems to be consistent over time. ...
Despite a recent increase in academic attention, little is known about how the general population perceives BDSM practitioners. Though the gay/lesbian community has undergone de-medicalization and de-stigmatization over time, the same process for BDSM practitioners is in its infancy. Past research suggests that BDSM practitioners do expect to be stigmatized by others, especially in the healthcare system; however, little is known about how the general population currently perceives and stigmatizes the BDSM community. In the current study, we found that the general population (N = 257) does stigmatize BDSM practitioners more than the gay/lesbian population, and both are stigmatized more than a low-stigma comparison group (people in romantic relationships), F(2, 253) = 21.70, p < .001, η2\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${\eta }^{2}$$\end{document} = 0.15. These findings help to inform mental healthcare providers and the general population about BDSM practitioners, with the goal of inspiring additional research and activism aimed at combating misinformation and reducing stigma toward this population.
... Many non-practitioners harbor negative impressions of BDSM as an inherently unkind practice filled with violent acts, despite consent and desire for those acts being key components of BDSM (Bauer, 2014). Researchers have also pathologized BDSM, often associating the practice with mental disorders and past abuse (Ortmann & Sprott, 2015;Richters et al., 2008); despite others finding most BDSM practitioners do not meet the criteria for mental illness (Connolly, 2008;Williams, 2015). Due to stigmatization, many practitioners conceal BDSM practices and identities (Damm et al., 2018;Martinez, 2018;Stiles & Clark, 2011) making study of entrance pathways relevant to the study of entrance into stigmatized and concealed sexual practices more generally. ...
Prior limited research on entrance into BDSM divided paths of entry into external or internal factors (Yosta & Hunter, 2012), while research on age at entry into BDSM has not considered variation by BDSM role identity, gender, sexual orientation, and other demographic differences. In this mixed-methods exploratory study, we contribute to this literature by collecting and analyzing qualitative interviews with 96 self-described practitioners of BDSM to more fully describe distinct pathways into BDSM, adding nuance to prior descriptions of entry. We also collected and analyzed surveys with 2,017 self-described practitioners of BDSM to examine patterns of age at entry into BDSM practices and fantasies, and selection into older or younger age at practice and age at fantasy by BDSM role identity, gender, sexual orientation, and other demographic characteristics. Interview respondents told “constructionist sexual stories” describing introductions to BDSM via popular culture including pornography and other media, the Internet, or a sexual partner that awaked an inherent interest, along with “essentialist sexual stories” which described self-discovery solely attributed to an inherent personality characteristic. Survey data revealed that age at fantasy and onset of behavior varied by social–environmental factors. Pathways and patterns into BDSM behavior and fantasies therefore reflect a combination of idiosyncratic interests, exposure to ideas via the media or partners, and stratified social norms and opportunities related to sexual behavior.
... While analyzing the diagnostic criteria included in the DSM-5 and ICD-11, one could clearly note that consensual sadistic and masochistic behaviors have been removed from the disorders category. The validity of this stance could be supported by research outcomes showing that there are no significant differences between persons engaged in S/M practices and those who are not [24][25][26]. ...
Wiele osób przejawia zainteresowanie praktykami BDSM. Niektórzy zaczynają je praktykować, a dla innych stają się one przedmiotem fantazji. Jednak jak pokazują badania pacjenci rzadko poruszają te wątki na terapii. Z praktykami BDSM łączy się kilka elementów, które zazwyczaj wykluczamy z bliskiej relacji. Są nimi przykładowo silna zależność jednego partnera od drugiego czy zadawanie bólu. Osoby praktykujące BDSM tworzą różnorodne związki, a w szerszym kontekście własne społeczności. Z perspektywy klinicznej istotną kwestią jest to czy relacja ta jest konsensualna, to znaczy czy partnerzy wyrażają na nią zgodę, a także czy służy ona rozwojowi człowieka i związku, czy też stanowić może podstawę do postawienia diagnozy zaburzenia parafilnego, stwierdzenia występowania przemocy lub/i rozpoznania mechanizmu powtarzania traumy. Adekwatne zrozumienie zachowań które może opisywać pacjent praktykujący BDSM wymaga jednak poznania specyfiki tak budowanych relacji. Profesjonalista zajmujący się zdrowiem psychicznym i seksualnym będzie wtedy mógł dokonać adekwatnej ich oceny, bez odwoływania się do subiektywnie postrzeganej normy czy też kierowania się stereotypami czy uprzedzeniami.
... Također, sudionici su ostvarili veći mjesečni prihod (24% sudionika imao je prihod veći od 3000 dolara) u usporedbi s općom populacijom (13,6%). U uzorku koji je ispitivala Connolly (2006) većina osoba (96,9%) je završila je srednju školu, 57,8% njih je imalo diplomu bakalerauta, a prilično veliki postotak (17,2%) je imao titulu magistra ili doktora nauka. Među ispitanicima bili su pisci, učitelji, redatelji, dizajneri, tajnici, računovođe i vladini dužnosnici. ...
Acta Catallactics časopis za ekonomska i opšta društvena pitanja (Broj 1, Godina 1). Udruženje građana Multi/IPI akademija, 2020. godina, Tuzla
... Despite this, not all forms of consensual sexual expression (e.g., kink practices) are recognized as healthy or permissible in Western culture, leaving anywhere from 4 to 65 percent of the population (Arndt et al., 1985;Janus & Janus, 1993;Sprott & Randall, 2017) facing stigma because of living outside societal expectations (Newmahr, 2010;Pillai-Friedman et al., 2015). In particular, individuals in the kink community are often stigmatized for their sexual expression (Hoff & Sprott, 2009;Stiles & Clark, 2011;Waldura et al., 2016) despite research supporting the positive impact expressing one's kink identity has on an individual's general well-being (Connolly, 2006;Wismeijer & van Assen, 2013;Williams, 2009). ...
Individuals in the kink community often report difficulty with finding affirming mental health care. Similarly, providers often report having limited knowledge of how best to support sexual diversity. This study highlights difficulties faced by kink individuals seeking clinical care and how providers can be more affirming. The current study utilized Delphi methodology to elucidate what clients with kink identities need from clinicians and the therapeutic environment. The study consisted of perspectives from 12 leaders in the kink community from across the United States. The culmination of their input is outlined and organized into five themes: Client Needs, Awareness and Understanding, Kink Client’s Perceptions of Therapists, Therapist Education & Training, and Client’s Perceptions of Therapy. These themes guide recommendations for practice that may be utilized in clinical training and guide clinical self-reflection.
... It is often claimed that women are more submissive/masochistic than men (e.g. Connolly, 2006), and Silva (2015) identifies distinct gender differences in pain levels desired/experienced and the context in which it is framed. At first inspection, this finding would seem to contradict established ideas of the gender distribution between Top and Bottom roles, with most participants in the Bottom role being male in contrast to the reportedly more common distribution of female Bottoms (Yost & Hunter, 2012). ...
Corporal punishment (CP) is one aspect of BDSM play. While enjoyed by many at a low level, some players indulge in heavier play, with the potential for skin and tissue damage. This paper presents the results of an exploratory quasi-ethnographic study into CP, examining the motivations and potential benefits and risks of playing in this way, with the aim of increasing understanding of why individuals engage in heavy CP. Data were gathered from scene observations and semi-structured interviews with participants, including three professional Dominatrices with a reputation internationally for CP. Thematic Analysis was used to assess the data. While sexual arousal was a motivator for some participants, it was not the motivator for the majority. The importance of the marks left on the body was a common theme, as was challenging oneself to increase the amount of CP received or given. This was either to demonstrate a progression along a journey of increasing severity, or to enhance the experience either sexually, bruises / marks wise, or psychologically. Despite allusions by participants to addiction, psychological benefits in mood and mental health were reported by all participants. The main negative aspect of participation was fear of stigma and the perceived inability to be open with others about their interests. Participation in CP is a positive experience for those involved. The importance of bodily marks is a new finding, as is the positive impact on mental health.
... An example of such bias can be seen with understanding of sadomasochism as psychological disorder since its inclusion in Krafft-Ebing's Psychopathia Sexualis (1965), originally published in the late 19th Century. Recent research has, by contrast, revealed that sexual sadism and masochism are not associated with pathology and may be associated with various psychological benefits (Connolly, 2006;Cross and Matheson, 2006;Hébert & Weaver, 2014;Powls & Davies, 2012;Richters, de Visser, Rissel, Grulich, & Smith, 2008;Sandnabba, Santtila, & Nordling, 1999;Wismeijer & van Assen, 2013). ...
Inspired by a lineage of Zen Buddhism, Zen Peacemakers provides a transformational path that integrates theory and practices, including meditation, Nonviolent Communication (NVC), the Way of Council, Bearing Witness Retreats, activism, and social enterprise. As an ordained Minister in the lineage who personally apprenticed with co-founder Bernie Glassman, I have seen these principles and practices provide great benefit. This article will highlight some of the many possible theoretical and practical points of resonance between Zen Peacemaking and the Eight Dimension Model of the Center for Positive Sexuality (CPS) (Williams, Thomas, Prior, & Walters, 2015) by suggesting how this rich and cohesive peacemaking methodology might help actualize each of the eight dimensions of positive sexuality, one dimension at a time. The eight dimensions are: (a) peacemaking, (b) multiple ways of knowing, (c) open, honest communication, (d) ethics, (e) application across all levels of social structure, (f) strengths, wellbeing, and happiness, (g) the recognition that individual sexuality is unique and multifaceted, and (h) humanization.
... However, numerous studies over the past few decades have shown that BDSM cannot be explained by psychopathology (for reviews, see Kleinplatz & Moser, 2007;Powls & Davies, 2012;Weinberg, 2006;Williams, 2006). Not only have empirical studies demonstrated that BDSM is not associated with psychopathology (i.e., Connolly, 2006;Cross & Matheson, 2006;Richters, et al., 2008) or prior childhood abuse (Sandnabba et al., 2002), there is some evidence that BDSM may promote psychological benefits as a form of healthy leisure (Newmahr, 2010a(Newmahr, , 2011Prior & Williams, 2015;Taylor & Ussher, 2001;Wismeijer & van Assen, 2013). ...
... Modern research on the psychological traits of BDSM practitioners strongly indicates that BDSM practitioners are comparable to the general population in terms of psychological health. Indeed, research has found BDSM practitioners to not diff er signifi cantly from the general population on measures of depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), borderline personality pathology ( Connolly, 2006 ) and psychological distress ( Richters, de Visser, Rissel, & Smith, 2006 ). BDSM practitioners have also reported the same rates of mental illness and levels of psychological adjustment as those observed in the general population ( Cross & Matheson, 2006 ). ...
Despite increased popular interest in, and research attention to, the topic of BDSM (Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, Sadism and Masochism) in recent years, empirical literature focusing on the psychological traits of people who practice BDSM is scarce. Mindfulness, which can be defined as non-judgmental awareness and acceptance of the present moment, has been linked to a host of positive physical, psychological, and sexual outcomes (e.g., relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, sexual arousal), and there is some limited evidence that those who practice BDSM may be exercising mindfulness. The current study examined dispositional mindfulness in a sample of BDSM practitioners ( n = 160) compared to a sample of undergraduate students ( n = 190). BDSM participants were found to report higher levels of mindfulness than undergraduates after controlling for age. These findings provide preliminary support for a link between BDSM and dispositional mindfulness. The pleasant altered states of consciousness sometimes achieved through BDSM activity may foster a state of mindfulness, which in turn may foster dispositional mindfulness.
... Despite the de-pathologization of BDSM practices within the DSM-5, stigma and misconceptions attached to BDSM, kink, and individuals within the community are widespread and common (Newmahr, 2011). These stigmatizing beliefs lead to unethical and even harmful practices by helping professionals, including professional counselors (Bezreh et al., 2012;Connolly, 2006;Gemberling, Cramer, Wright, & Nobels, 2015;Waldura, Arora, Randall, Farala, & Sprott, 2016;Wismeijer & van Assen, 2013). According to one study conducted by the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (2008) that sampled 3,058 members of the kink culture, 49% of participants reported discrimination from a medical professional and 39% reported discrimination from a mental health professional. ...
BDSM is an overlapping acronym that includes bondage and discipline (BD), dominance and submission (DS), and sadism and masochism (SM). Over the past few years, kink culture and BDSM practices have become more prevalent in the mainstream culture. Kink is an umbrella term used to describe BDSM practices and paraphilias (Popp & Kaldera, 2014), kinky sex, role play, sex games, fantasies, fetishes, and other erotic expressions (Taormino, 2012). Although kink and BDSM represent exclusive terms, many individuals use them interchangeably (Taormino, 2012). The authors of this practice brief use the term kink culture to refer to the community as a whole while specifying when topics are specific to individuals who practice BDSM.
... Much of the past research on individuals who engaged in sadomasochism assumed these individuals were psychologically unwell (Taylor & Ussher, 2001). However, numerous studies have now described those who engage in BDSM as being psychologically and socially well-adjusted and not much diff erent than those who do not engage in BDSM (Connolly, 2006;Cross & Matheson, 2006;Richters, de Visser, Rissel, & Smith, 2006;Weinberg, 2006). ...
There is a growing movement to incorporate sex positivity into clinical and counseling psychology. Although sex positivity has a framework that promotes diversity and inclusion, intersectionality in sex positive research, training, and practice is practically non-existent. The aim of the present paper is to analyze issues related to sex and sexuality from an intersectional sex positive framework. Discussion surrounding intersectional issues among subgroups, sexualities, and relationship structures will be provided. In order to fully adopt an intersectional sex positive approach, recommendations for research, training, and practice will be described.
... There is a substantial literature on topics linked with BDSM, especially those who are interested in the psychology of sex. As a result, the prevailing literature on BDSM delves into the psychology of BDSM practitioners (see, e.g., Ardill & O'Sullivan, 2005;Bauer, 2008;Baumeister, 1997;Chaline, 2010;Connolly, 2006;Cross & Matheson, 2006;Dymock, 2012;Hébert & Weaver, 2014;Holt, 2016;Moser, 1988;Moser & Levitt, 1987;Nichols, 2006;Richters et al., 2008;Sandnabba, Santtila, & Nordling, 1999;M. S. Weinberg, Williams, & Moser, 1984;Yost & Hunter, 2012). ...
... BDSM practitioners (Richters et al., 2008;Wismeijer and van Assen, 2013), the experienced stigma of sadomasochism (Brown, 2010;Lindemann, 2013;Meeker, 2013), the depathologisation of BDSM and the need to demystify and decriminalise consensual SM (Beckmann, 2001a(Beckmann, , 2009Ridinger, 2006 in Kleinplatz andMoser, 2006;Thompson, 1994;White, 2006 in Kleinplatz andMoser, 2006;Wright, 2010) and the psychological mechanisms of BDSM -either in a broader sense (Connolly, 2006), focused on couple dynamics in sexual and asexual pairs (Cutler, 2003;Sloan, 2015), or on the construction of sexuality itself (Faccio et al., 2014). Meanwhile, clinical psychology research has focused on how to work with clients practising BDSM (Barker et al., 2007;Hoff and Sprott, 2009;Jozı´fkova´, 2007), while sociobiological, biological and medical research has dealt with the possible preconditioned causes of BDSM tendencies (Yost and Hunter, 2012), the measured physical and sexual reactions of BDSM practitioners (Monteiro et al., 2015;Stockwell et al., 2010) or the biometric system for the safety of BDSM practitioners (Noessel, 2006). ...
Recently, much has been written in the mass media about the novel and film Fifty Shades of Grey. It was widely portrayed as an example of BDSM (a common abbreviation for the terms bondage, discipline, dominance, submissivity, sadism and masochism) subculture and used as a symbol of sadomasochistic identity. But is this public view based on the self image of BDSM subcultural members or is it a figment of the imagination of writers and journalists? This article presents the voice of BDSM activists, who are silenced and excluded from the public debate. Using a virtual ethnographic method, we analyse the BDSM blogosphere as a platform for subcultural expressions of opinion. We combine this with a documentary analysis. In doing so, we examine how BDSM subculture members perceive themselves in contrast to the mainstream view of them pictured in the book Fifty Shades of Grey. This article investigates to what extent the subcultural conception of BDSM corresponds to the book's depiction and where it differs fundamentally.
... As noted above, some ARHMs are BDSM-oriented, adding an additional status or sexual preference that is subject to prejudice and discrimination. BDSM-oriented individuals are demographically similar to non-BDSM-oriented individuals (Connolly, 2006;Pitagora, 2013;Weinberg, Williams, & Moser, 1984); therefore, they may be perceived by those outside the communities as non-BDSM-oriented, and may suffer effects associated with having a concealable stigmatized identity (Quinn & Chaudoir, 2009). ARHMs and BDSM-oriented ARHMs may experience anticipated stigma related to the fear that atypical sexual interests will be revealed, and cultural stigma associated with the risk of social devaluation if atypical sexual interests are revealed (Quinn & Chaudoir, 2009). ...
Despite the direct connection between anal sex and pleasure, the majority of academic literature frames anal sex in terms of homophobia and/or disease. In the large body of literature on anal sex, only two academic articles have been published on anoreceptive heterosexual males (ARHMs), despite evidence of this type of sexuality dating back to Ancient Egypt and Greece. A review of the literature suggests that the lack of empirical research on ARHMs is due to compulsory heteronormativity, which can instill sexual shame in those with nonconforming sexual preferences. Some ARHMs are BDSM-oriented, and given that BDSM behavior and identity are also stigmatized, BDSM-oriented ARHMs have an additional concealable status that is subject to prejudice. Skills such as higher level communication and self-reflection often inform BDSM interactions and relationship structures, therefore, BDSM-oriented ARHMs may have more opportunity to develop skills to offset shame and stigma, and may take pride as well as pleasure in subverting traditionally heteronormative anoreception roles.
... Although a personal interest in BDSM has long been pathologized (Beckmann, 2001;Kleinplatz and Moser, 2005;Pitagora, 2013;Taylor, 1997) and often presumed to be the result of childhood trauma or abuse (Nordling et al., 2000;Taylor and Ussher, 2001;Weille, 2002), empirical studies have repeatedly found that BDSM practitioners have non-remarkable psychological profiles (Connolly, 2006;Cross and Matheson, 2006;He´bert and Weaver, 2014;Weinberg, 2006) and are no more likely than the general population to have experienced trauma or abuse (Powls and Davies, 2012;Richters et al., 2008;Sandnabba et al., 2002). Additionally, some research suggests that BDSM practitioners may actually experience lower levels of psychological distress (Richters et al., 2008) and may be ''healthier than the general population in a number of personality measures'' (Khan, 2015: 53;Wismeijer and Van Assen, 2013). ...
In this article, I introduce the concept of BDSM as trauma play, which is the practice of intentionally engaging in BDSM activities in order to “play” with one’s past trauma or abuse. I begin by offering a fuller definition of trauma play, and I then summarize some of the key scholarly discussions related to the topic, especially the themes of healing, therapy, play, and embodiment. Following this, I take an autoethnographic approach, and I investigate my own trauma play experiences, which I subsequently analyze and use to highlight the need for more systematic research into this understudied topic area that significantly impacts the lives of some BDSM practitioners.
... There is a substantial literature on topics linked with BDS, especially those who are interested in the psychology of sex. As a result, the prevailing literature on BDSM delves into the psychology of BDSM practitioners (see, for example, Ardill & O'Sullivan, 2005;Baumeister, 1997;Bauer 2008;Chaline, 2010;Connolly, 2006;Cross & Matheson, 2006;Dymock, 2012;Hébert & Weaver, 2014;Holt, 2016;Moser, 1988;Moser and Levitt, 1987;Nichols, 2006;Richters, et al., 2008;Sandnabba et al., 1999;Weinberg et al., 1984;Yost & Hunter, 2012). Within this literature, authors typically delve into topics such as the the psychology of pain, the norms of BDSM culture, sexual identity, and the general psychology of BDSM practitioners, among other things. ...
The kinkster/BDSM community is a sexual minority that largely operates underground. Although not linked directly with the sexual practices of the community, the prevailing social institution of the subculture is the munch, social gatherings in which no “kink” activities take place. In this research, we analyze data from two international surveys, one of munch organizers and one of munch participants. The findings show the lifestyle and demographic variables that are linked with placing importance upon the institution of the munch. One major finding from the research is that munch participants to be most strongly motivated with a desire to socialize, rather than looking for partners for sexual experiences, although these two motivations are not mutually exclusive. In addition, we see that for both organizers and participants in munches, the more years in the lifestyle, the less importance organizers and participants place on the munch for their involvement in the lifestyle.
... BDSM is a overlapping acronym that refers to the practices of bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadism and masochism. The American Psychiatric Association "depathologized" kinky sex [1] -including cross-dressing, fetishism, and BDSM -, despite retaining a clinical justification [2], in the fifth edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) [3]. Henceforth, the paraphilias are considered "other sexual interests," 1 whereas individuals who have sexual relations with children or with people who have not given their consent, or who deliberately cause harm to themselves or to others are said to present a paraphilic disorder. ...
Objective
BDSM is a overlapping acronym that refers to the practices of bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadism and masochism. The American Psychiatric Association “depathologized” kinky sex – including cross-dressing, fetishism, and BDSM –, despite retaining a clinical justification, in the fifth edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Henceforth, the paraphilias are considered “other sexual interests.”
Method
We analyze several psycho-sexological studies that treat sadomasochistic practices as psychic case studies. BDSM practices are no longer considered deviant behaviors, but, on the contrary, “common” behaviors that have been adopted by a large number of individuals. These individuals use contractualization in a specific context.
Result
Rather than considering BDSM practice to be a perversion by assimilating it to homosexuality, current research in gender and psychiatry and in the psychology of subsexualities has moved beyond the analysis of “deviance,” preferring a scientific study of the effects of BDSM practice, particularly of their positive effects on mood, stress, or depression.
Discussion
The BDSM and Therapy Project is concerned with articulating the possible risks of BDSM play and with clarifying situations where BDSM play is neither safe nor helpful. Members of the BDSM community have expressed the following points: the development of barriers between community members; the risks of alienation and isolation through stigmatization; having one's limits violated during a scene; the potential risk of dehumanization and destruction.
Conclusion
BDSM therapy, in a therapeutic setting as well as within the community, is based on consent. BDSM can be a form of psychotherapy for the subject. BDSM therapy would consist in the modification of the meaning of physical suffering by transforming it into voluntary pain, through consensual constraint. A functional BDSM therapeutic practice requires at least three conditions: (1) the SM relationship involves a willing dominant and a willing submissive; (2) this erotic duo exists in a codified setting; (3) the dominant is a “therapizer” in her/his display of empathy for the submissive; (4) a two-way flow of reciprocal benefits in terms of post-session well-being.
The primary aims of this paper were to (1) quantify frequencies of BDSM self-labels, (2) describe patterns in subtypes of BDSM involvement (i.e. fantasy, behavior, and identity), (3) compare BDSM-related involvement among two samples: members of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) and a non-NCSF sample of adults interested in or practicing BDSM, and (4) understand whether BDSM identity specialty interest group membership is associated with enhanced health (i.e. coping and mental health). Data were drawn from archival survey data on sexuality and health. Participants (N=1036) identifying as BDSM practitioners completed BDSM identity and behavior measures. A range of BDSM identities were endorsed with the most common being “dominant” and “submissive”. NCSF members adopted BDSM identity labels more frequently compared to general adult BDSM practitioners. Dominant and submissive fantasy and behavior varied by gender, sexual orientation, and relationship status. For example, cisgender men reported elevated patterns of dominant and lowered submissive BDSM involvement. Regarding the sample, compared to non-NCSF members, NCSF members were significantly more likely to endorse higher dominant and submissive fantasies and behaviors, and reported better mental health and emotion regulation. Finally, submissive fantasy involvement displayed statistically significant, but weak, positive associations with psychological health. Findings are discussed concerning future public health practice, theory development, and research.
The classification of sexual fantasies and behaviors (here referred to as ‘sexual interests’) has historically been divided into ‘paraphilic’ and ‘normophilic’. However, studies on paraphilic interests are often limited to clinical or forensic samples and normophilic interests are rarely assessed in tandem. Previous research has found mixed results for psychological and other correlates of sexual interests, potentially due to inconsistency in operationalism and measurement of fantasies and behaviors. The aim of the current study was to quantify correlates of sexual interests via the Sexual Fantasies and Behaviors Inventory, containing factors related to general fantasies/behaviors, normophilia, power dynamics, sadomasochism, and courtship paraphilias, using a large ( N = 4280) non-clinical sample. Psychological, developmental, sexual, and demographic correlates were investigated via bivariate correlations, mean difference testing, and multiple regression. Sexual interest domains were largely unrelated to psychopathology and developmental factors. Sociosexuality and more accepting attitudes towards sadomasochism was generally related to more arousal to/engagement in normophilic and paraphilic domains. More autism spectrum disorder traits were related to decreased normophilic interests. Psychopathic traits, sexual sensation seeking, and sexual compulsivity were related to paraphilia dimensions, especially courtship paraphilias and domination/sadism; the former was also associated with negative attitudes about establishing consent. Men, non-monogamous, and non-heterosexual participants indicated greater sexual fantasies and behaviors compared to women (except in the case of submission and masochism), monogamous, and heterosexual participants, respectively.
In recent years, there has been a popularization of non-mainstream sexual/cultural practices. The sensation of Fifty Shades of Grey has led to the general public becoming increasingly aware of the kink/BDSM lifestyle. The BDSM/kink/sado-masochist lifestyle has largely thrived under the radar of many in the general public and the subculture/lifestyle has organized and held events for decades. In this article, we discuss the various events of the kink/BDSM subculture/lifestyle and illustrate the importance of the non-play events for those in the lifestyle. The authors have fielded two ground-breaking global surveys that delve into the prevailing social institution of the kink/BDSM lifestyle, The Munch, an event in which no BDSM activities take place. The intention of this research is to show the methods that participants and organizers use in order to protect the identity of those attending non-play BDSM events that take place in the general public. The findings show that those participating in munches, a popular form of non-play events, tend to use their real names, although there is a large minority that do not. The analysis intends to give insight into those who operate below the radar of society and still have a vibrant social scene.
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A publication of Vancouver Island University World Leisure Centre of Excellence
© Craig Webster and Stanislav Ivanov 2020
Powerplay, or the consensual power exchange between “Dominant” and “submissive” (D/s) role partners, is common practice within BDSM culture. To many BDSM practitioners, their D/s role is an integral part of their sexual identity, informing not only their sexual scripts but also their non-sexual social interactions. Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) text analysis software was used to process 261 participants’ responses to prompts asking them to write erotic and relationship-themed narratives. Using a data-driven approach to model selection, we regressed participants’ engagement in BDSM and D/s powerplay role identification on standardized language frequencies. Stories from more active BDSM practitioners’ narratives used more perceptual words, suggesting potentially mindful, intimate, and detailed storytelling, whereas non-practitioners used more tentativeness and death in their writings. Moreover, language reflected D/s role attributes, with Dominants exhibiting ownership, responsibility, and other-focus, and submissives referencing power dynamics and self-focus in their responses. Findings are consistent with existing literature on BDSM power relationships and relate to psychosexual well-being.
Bondage/Discipline/Dominance/submission/Sadism/Masochism (BDSM) is most frequently conceptualized as only non-normative, 'kinky' sex. In this dissertation, I combine feminist ethnographic accounts of women's experiences as BDSM practitioners alongside theoretical frameworks of gendered embodiment to propose a reading of some BDSM practices as other-than-sex. Rather than narrowing the definition of sex, I instead take up Foucault's expression of the possibilities of bodies and pleasures to explore how alternative relationality is formed between practitioners with some types of BDSM play with pain and power. In doing so, there is an expanded potential for women's queer pleasure and a real possibility of disrupting patriarchal social structure with practitioners' altered being-in-the-world. This analysis is centred on accounts from eighteen women participants in Toronto and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, who were active BDSM practitioners. Participants in this project challenged traditional understandings of pain and masochism to produce new understandings of both. They accounted for safety and risk considerations in practices that help formulate a more robust consideration of the complications of consent in other-than-sex practices than is typically allowed for in either mainstream or BDSM-specific frameworks of consent. Lastly, they expressed conceptions of the strategic eroticization of power that accounted for it in play without eliminating the social power that some bodies exercise more flexibly than others. The alternative relationality that is fostered by other-than-sex BDSM practices is powerfully intimate and based on the radical vulnerability and bodily access between practitioners.
Background
Recent research has indicated that participation in BDSM (bondage-discipline, dominance-submission, and/or sadism-masochism) is not associated with psychological distress or psychopathology but that sexual roles may be associated with personality characteristics, specifically interpersonal dominance and empathy.
Aim
The present study examined potential differences between those who identify as dominant, switch, and submissive on interpersonal dominance and empathy.
Methods
Individuals who identified as members of the BDSM community were recruited online via a social networking site.
Main Outcome Measures
Self-reported demographic variables, the Personality Assessment Inventory, Dominance subscale, and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index Empathic Concern subscale.
Results
Participants were well distributed across sexual roles (n = 279; 25.4% dominant, 38% submissive, 36.6% switch), identified as primarily female (59.5%), primarily heterosexual (53.4%), and the most common age group was 25-34 years (27.2%). BDSM role was associated with scores on the Dominance subscale; dominant BDSM practitioners scored significantly higher on the Dominance scale than switches, who in turn scored significantly higher than submissives (dominant mean [M] = 61.44, standard deviation [SD] = 8.26; switch M = 53.99, SD = 11.18, P < .01; submissive M = 49.41, SD = 11.46, P < .01). There were no differences on the measure of empathy between dominant, submissive, and switch BDSM practitioners. On average, individuals who identified as submissives and switches scored in the average range on the Dominance scale compared with the normative sample, and individuals who identified as dominants scored higher but not in the markedly elevated range.
Clinical Implications
The study provides information on the relationship between interpersonal dominance as a personality trait and dominance as a sexual role and has implications for reducing stigma related to these practices.
Strengths and Limitations
The study contributes to the growing literature suggesting that while BDSM roles may correspond with specific personality characteristics, they are not indicative of personalities significantly different than the general population's. The study also included individuals who identified as switch, a group often excluded from quantitative research in the BDSM community. The sample was, however, recruited exclusively online, and findings may not be applicable to all BDSM practitioners.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that there are no differences in empathy between BDSM practitioner roles, and although there are differences in interpersonal dominance, these characteristics are not likely to be prominent in individuals’ everyday interactions.
Jansen KL, Fried AL, Chamberlain J. An Examination of Empathy and Interpersonal Dominance in BDSM Practitioners. J Sex Med 2020;XX:XXX–XXX.
Rope bondage subculture is a social world positioned underneath the broader umbrella of pansexual BDSM subculture. It is characterized by its own norms, spaces, words, practices, art, career opportunities, events, identities, and more. The status of rope as a sub-subculture spread across and between locations renders it mostly invisible to outsiders. As such, although there are a few studies on rope bondage, its discrete social world has rarely been recognized in academic research, and never as the primary focus. Through my insider status I investigate the shape of the rope bondage world and the experiences of some of the people within it.
I draw on 23 qualitative interviews with people who practice rope bondage in Canada and the United States to investigate peoples’ experiences of rope bondage practice and subculture. My analysis is supported by a theoretical foundation informed by symbolic interactionism, feminism, critical disability studies, and critical race theory. I explore the theoretical and methodological intricacies of conducting qualitative research on rope bondage from the inside, while prioritizing and theorizing ethical participant-centered methods informed by select kinky etiquette and practices.
My findings suggest that rope bondage subculture is characterized by almost indescribable experiences of pleasure, belonging, and joy, along with experiences of conflict and discrimination at personal and structural levels. It is both a vibrant social world and a subculture informed by (and reflective of) the racism, ableism, sexism, homo/transphobia, and classism that plague wider society. The accounts of disabled and racialized rope bondage practitioners are crucial to understanding both oppression and resistance in this world.
I build upon Weiss’ (2006) concept of unintelligibility to argue that kinky pleasure that is not strictly, normatively sexual appears to be unintelligible to most BDSM researchers. Further, in some respects, kinky pleasure is unintelligible—or at least ineffable—to some of the practitioners themselves. My findings show that understanding the texture of rope bondage’s pleasure requires listening to how rope bondage practitioners theorize their own desires, pleasures, and lives.
This work offers theoretical, conceptual, and practical tools to understand rope bondage practitioners, complex sexualities, BDSM, and participant-centered research on deviantized demographics.
A general procedure for the optimization of atomic density-fitting basis functions is designed with the balance between accuracy and numerical stability in mind. Given one-electron wavefunctions and energies, weights are assigned to the product densities, modeling their contribution to the exchange and second-order correlation energy, and a simple weighted error measure is minimized. Generally contracted Gaussian auxiliary basis sets are optimized to match the wavefunction basis sets [D. N. Laikov, Theor. Chem. Acc. 138, 40 (2019)] for all 102 elements in a scalar-relativistic approximation [D. N. Laikov, J. Chem. Phys. 150, 061103 (2019)].
Limited research indicates that people from the kink community may not find talking therapies accessible. Findings are presented from a thematic analysis of five semi-structured interviews with adults who self-identify as kinky. Participants reported self-censorship as a risk-management strategy to avoid encountering (i) social stigma, (ii) medicalisation and (iii) conflation of true BDSM with abuse or self-harm. Interviewees required counsellors to be better informed, and for services to be more inclusive and proactive. They regarded the kink community as therapeutically minded, harbouring a population motivated and appropriately skilled to engage with counselling and psychotherapy. Findings recommend potential changes to counsellor training and service provision aiming to enable practitioners to work more effectively and ethically with sexually diverse clients.
BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, and sadomasochism) encompasses a diverse set of sexual interests. Research interests in BDSM have been historically underpinned by examining potential mental health issues, unhealthy fixations on specific sexual behaviors, and/or the presence of childhood trauma, as is predicted by psychopathological and psycho-10 analytic models. The objective of this scoping review was to provide an overview of the current landscape of BDSM research, including incidence rates, evidence for psychopathological, psychoanalytical, biological, and social etiological factors, demographics of BDSM practitioners , and the psychological correlates of those with BDSM interests. After the literature search and screening process, 60 articles were included. BDSM related fantasies were found to 15 be common (40-70%) in both males and females, while about 20% reported engaging in BDSM. Results show little support for psychopathologic or psychoanalytic models. In the selected samples studied, BDSM practitioners appear to be white, well educated, young, and do not show higher rates of mental health or relationship problems. Research supports BDSM being used as a broadening of sexual interests and behaviors instead of a fixation on a specific interest. Future 20 empirical research should focus on non-pathological models of BDSM, discrimination of BDSM practitioners, interpersonal relationships, and biological factors.
The purpose of this research is to name the symptoms and signs of S&M, defined as a mental disorder and a deviant behavior pattern, and to determine their role in shaping violent sex motivation. Our theory follows from criminological and psycho-psychiatric research that was about questioning 132 persons, who committed violent sex crimes, reviewing their medical histories and mental health profiles, and interviewing persons somehow relative to them. This research outlines diagnostic criteria for S&M behavior that will add to a correct evaluation of committed violent sex crime. Personality characteristics of a sadomasochist are revealed, so are the origins and reasons behind deviant sexuality. Research results allow simplifying the process of mental evaluation of those who committed violent sex crimes, and finding out what was behind such an act. From this perspective, research results can be used to create a more effective system for preventing sexual violence.
A theory describing the development of alternating, dissociated, victim/masochistic and perpetrator/sadistic ego states in persons who grew up with abusive primary caretakers is proposed, and a paradigm for treatment is derived from the theory. Alternating ego states can be observed throughout the spectrum of dissociative disorders, from Borderline Personality to Dissociative Identity Disorder. Dependence on an abusive caretaker creates a series of relational dilemmas for the child. To maintain attachment, abuse must be dissociated, but to protect the self from abuse, need for attachment must be disavowed. Disorganized attachment may result. When alternating ego states are understood as evolving from defensive schemas developed to negotiate the dilemmas of attachment to an abuser, the following therapeutic techniques can be derived: (1) identifying adaptive needs and maladaptive defenses; (2) interpreting ego state switches as attempts to resolve relational dilemmas; (3) gradually bridging dissociation between states; (4) using transference and countertransference to understand relational patterns; and (5) cultivating more adaptive interpersonal skills within the therapeutic relationship. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Demographics, sexual behavior, and self‐perceptions of a self‐defined sadomasochistic (S/M) sample of 178 men are described. These men either returned a questionnaire published in an S/M magazine or completed a questionnaire after being solicited at an S/M support‐group meeting. The composite respondent was heterosexual, well‐educated, relatively affluent, interested in both dominant and submissive roles (switchable), and engaged in a wide range of sexual activities, both S/M and non‐S/M. Most of the respondents first acknowledged interest and engaged in S/M acts as a young adult, after other sexual orientation issues were settled. Although most respondents were satisfied with the S/M aspect of their sexuality, a small percentage (approximately 6%) expressed distress concerning their behavior, and 16% had sought help from a therapist regarding their S/M desires. These data are generally similar to those obtained from a similar investigation of a West German sample (Spengler, 1975, 1977). The data from a smaller sample (N = 47) of women collected at the same time are described briefly.
Recent findings have suggested that trauma plays a major role in the development of psychiatric illness. Freud's theory of the repetition compulsion has proved very useful in attempting to understand how overwhelming trauma is repressed and dissociated, only to return to be reexperienced in dreams, nightmares, flashbacks, and other aspects of current life. A conceptual framework as to how such episodes occur and present, as well as numerous clinical illustrations, are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
A 13-item Dissociation scale is introduced, and preliminary data regarding its reliability are presented. Designed to complement the Symptom Checklist (SCL-90; Derogatis, Lipman, & Covi, 1973) and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL; Derogatis, Lipman, Rickels, Ulenhuth, & Covi, 1974), this scale may be especially useful in research on the effects of psychological trauma.
Presents an overview of the psychodynamic and behavioral perspectives on the etiology of sadism and masochism. It is argued that psychodynamic theorists have been too broad in their identification of causal factors, and behavioral theorists have oversimplified the phenomenon, often confounding it with other behavior patterns (e.g., fetishism). Researchers are encouraged to build a solid base of empirical data and use precise definitions to remove sources of confusion regarding differences between erotogenic, feminine, and moral masochism; normal and abnormal aggressiveness; overt sadomasochistic and psychosexual sadomasochistic behavior; and consensual and nonconsensual sexual activity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Suggests that disturbed early object relations, including excessive power struggles and coercion by parental figures, affect the child's inadequate development of autonomy and assertiveness and lead to power-imbalanced sexual fantasies. A continuum of eroticism is proposed that includes varying degrees of dominance and power. At the healthy end of the continuum lies mature object love with equality and reciprocity of power; at the unhealthy end lies sadism and masochism. The requirement of power or dominance for sexual arousal and pleasure is said to come from excessive control/coercion by powerful parent objects during early psychosexual development. The need for dominance is most likely to occur during the anal phase. Case studies of a woman and a man illustrate how the need for dominance and power relate to the losing battle of a young child with a powerful caretaker who is loved and hated by the excited, frustrated child. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
A preeminent psychoanalyst explores the world of consensual S & M [sadism and masochism]. An expert on the dynamics of perversion and erotic excitement, Dr. Stoller sets out on an expedition to the S & M community of West Hollywood. We meet the highly articulate Ron, who serves as a guide to the fetishes and bizarre practices of both casual and devoted proponents of sadomasochism. We are introduced to Marilyn and Claudelle, two warmly opinionated entrepreneurs of a B & D (bondage and discipline) establishment. The arcane business of S & M videos is documented by Merlin, an enthusiastic producer of pornography. Most interesting are Dr. Stoller's provocative questions to these denizens of the S & M world and his engaging musings on their answers.
Like an anthropologist in New Guinea, Dr. Stoller observes the customs of these natives. He studies them in his quest for insight into the perplexing question of why some people associate pain and humiliation with intense erotic desire. Thus his journey is not only external, but internal—into the meaning and boundaries of the term perversion and its place within the psyche. He investigates how the theater of the imagination is moved into the real world's reverberating complexity. In the course of this journey, Dr. Stoller changes his views, first referring to these S & M practitioners as specimens and then perceiving them, in their ambiguities and contradictions, as human beings. By joining Dr. Stoller, we find not only nuances in the meanings of consensual sadomasochism but larger implications of what being human means. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
This paper explored several pathways along which masochistic (and sadistic) activity may be called into the service of the narcissistic function of restoring and sustaining the cohesiveness, stability and positive affective coloring of a precarious, threatened, damaged or fragmenting self representation. It was suggested that the degree of structural deficiency and consequent narcissistic vulnerability of the individual will determine the motivational priority of the narcissistic function in his sadomasochistic formations, as well as the extent to which his narcissistic restorative efforts are primitively instinctualized.
Masochistic phenomena in adults are discussed as derivatives of conscious and/or unconscious fantasies. These masochistic fantasies are always associated with conscious and/or unconscious narcissistic and sadistic fantasies. These fantasies, like all fantasies in adults, are conceived of as compromise formations. After a selected review of the literature, analytic data are presented to highlight the clinical advantages of a contemporary elaboration of the structural hypothesis for the understanding of sadomasochistic and sadonarcissistic phenomena.
The monthly magazine of a sadomasochism club was investigated as a means of describing important issues for club members. The magazine was selected for this exploratory study because it is: (a) The club's only recorded history; (b) the only repository of club members' writings and photographs; and (c) the only link to the club for about 15% of the membership who do not attend meetings or other club activities because they reside some distance from the club's two West Coast chapters. A descriptive content analysis was performed on 47 issues of the club's magazine, published between October 1983 and January 1988, and the results were combined with the findings of a December 1987 magazine readership survey completed by 44% of the 812 dues-paying club members. The author's nonparticipant observations of club programs are also reported. The results indicate the magazine's space is filled by seven subject categories: S/M media reviews (2% of space), S/M poetry (5%), S/M issues (10%), S/M "how-to" (12%), S/M photography (14%), fantasy and real S/M stories (17%), and organizational reports (40%).
Three analyses are presented in which acute trauma (overwhelming internal or external stimulation so great as to preclude the patient's utilizing his usual defenses adequately) in childhood contributed to the development of masochism. The patients later attempted mastery through repetition, reversal, and erotization , and employed regression as a defense against feared oedipal wishes.
The term masochism was originally used in a narrow, specifically sexual sense (referring to perversions ), but has come to encompass for many analysts an exceedingly broad and variably determined range of clinical phenomena that bear no consistent relation to sexual excitement. In addition, these expanding clinical perspectives have long been entangled with Freud's shifting metapsychological constructions designed to ground masochism in instinctual theory. As a result, the term is used with little consistency and at varied levels of abstraction: loosely descriptive, dynamic, theoretical. It is not always explicit which meaning is intended or what inferences, if any, are meant to be drawn from the term. When used in its broadest sense, masochism may falsely suggest dynamic similarity between diverse phenomena, and is often ambiguous with respect to the presence or absence of underlying erotic or perverse excitement. In the clinical situation, the categorization of material as masochistic may evoke an associated set of genetic, dynamic, or theoretical ideas which may alter the perception, ordering, and interpretation of clinical data. Particularly conducive to this subtle steering process are the enduring influence of the early concept of feminine masochism and the related concept of sadistic and masochistic paired opposite component sexual instincts--a theoretical, physicalistic , linear concept incompatible with the clinical model of overdetermination and multiple function. This paper includes a review of the terminological and conceptual history of masochism, briefly touches on the parallel history of sadism , and offers some provisional definitional solutions.
To investigate unobtrusively how individuals experience sexual bondage, we analyzed all messages about sexual bondage (N = 514) mailed to an international computerized discussion group on sexual bondage in 1990. The most frequent individual experience reported (n = 60) was playful use of bondage to explore new areas of sexual pleasure. Other frequent experiences were the exchange of power, intensified sexual pleasure, and tactile stimulation and bodily sensations. Preference for the dominant-initiator role was expressed in 71% of the messages by male heterosexuals, 11% of the messages by heterosexual females, and 12% of the messages by homosexual males. Preference for the submissive-recipient role was expressed in 29% of the messages by heterosexual males, 89% by heterosexual females, and 88% by homosexual males. In 33% of messages subjects stated that sexual bondage occurred simultaneously with sadomasochism or was perceived as part of it.
The concept of the repetition compulsion remains an enigma. Its etiology is not fully understood and the purpose it serves continues to be a mystery. Although it is often theorized that the compulsion to repeat may function to facilitate mastery of a past trauma, mastery is rarely achieved. In this article the concept of the repetition compulsion is reviewed and the unanswered questions that continue to exist about this phenomenon are summarized. A way to conceptualize the compulsion to repeat is then offered. The compulsion to repeat as it specifically relates to the attempt to master a previous trauma is reviewed, followed by a examination of the relationship between the compulsion to repeat and reenactments. Finally, how the compulsion to repeat can be viewed as a posttraumatic stress response and the implications of understanding it in this fashion is then examined.
Several adult male members of a sadomasochistic sex club were arrested for violating a U.K. statute passed in 1861--The Offences Against the Person Act. The sex acts spanned a 10-year period and were videotaped. They involved manipulation of the genitalia with hot wax, sand paper, fish hooks, and needles. The sexual interactions were consensual. This analysis tracks the case from trial, to the Court of Appeal, to the House of Lords, and on to the European Court of Human Rights. It examines whether or not these sexual behaviors should be protected under a right to privacy. It contrasts state concerns of bodily harm, albeit consented to, in sex with those incurred in sport.