Sadomasochism

Sadomasochism (S&M) represents the synthesis of two terms—sadism and masochism—associated with sexual arousal derived from inflicting or receiving physical or psychological pain or other acts that involve dominance and submission (D&S). The word sadomasochism for many people conjures up images of “whips and chains” or a man or woman clad in black leather ready to enact a dominant or submissive role. When practiced, sadomasochism involves a wide range of behaviors and fantasies whereby S&M participants, or “SMers,” enact scenarios they consider “safe, sane, and consensual.”

The terms sadism and masochism were first coined by psychoanalyst and sexologist (sex researcher) Richard von Krafft-Ebing in 1885. Sadism was named after the writer Marquis de Sade (1740-1814) because of his sexualized fictional accounts Justine and Juliette, which contained numerous acts of torture (usually against young women). Masochism was named after historian and author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1836-1895), who had written Venus in Furs, which told of a submissive man in love with a sexually powerful woman. Contemporary sexologist Vern Bullough argues that Krafft-Ebing attempted to describe sadism and masochism as two of four categories of sexual variation whereby the sexual desire to either inflict pain or to suffer from pain are pathological expressions of “normal” masculinity and femininity. During the same period, Sigmund Freud concurred with Krafft-Ebing that masochism in males was psychologically more problematic than it was for females.

The next generation of sexologists, most notably English sexologist Havelock Ellis, continued to examine sexual behaviors through a more relativistic lens. Ellis in particular attempted to divorce most types of sexual behavior from pathology. He argued that sadism and masochism relate more closely to one another as sadomasochism (he used the term algo-lagnia) and can be found in one individual. In other words, participants of S&M are “switchable or flexible” and not restricted to one role or the other in their adult sexual relationships.

Although historical evidence suggests that in many cultures lovers have engaged in behaviors such as biting, pinching, or wrestling, today those same behaviors might be labeled sadomasochism. Although exact numbers of SMers are not known, various studies since the mid-20th century have attempted to record individuals' actual participation or willingness to engage in some type of S&M behavior. Though definitions of S&M vary from study to study, one Kinsey Institute estimate is that 5 percent to 10 percent of the adult U.S. population participates in some type of S&M activity.

Contemporary social scientists such as Thomas S. Weinberg have refrained sadomasochism as social behavior, and SMers stress that their scenes are scripted together. Many use the shorthand “BDSM” (BD for bondage and discipline) to represent a wide range of behaviors and fantasies that could include age play, role playing as “master/mistress and slave,” spanking, whipping or caning, hot wax, restraint with rope or leather, corseting, cross-dressing, and body modifications such as tattooing and piercing, in addition to various types of intercourse. Nonphysical acts can include verbal humiliation, degradation, or name-calling.

[Page 728]Although sadomasochistic behaviors might sound harmful, practitioners of S&M believe it is a misunderstood set of behaviors rather than an exchange of power between consenting adults. There is also a range of participants in sadomasochism. Some SMers are in love relationships; some participate in specialized clubs or groups such as the National Leather Association International; some engage in it commercially; and some participate continually as “lifestylers.” Finally, there are a host of specialized implements to assist in SMers' scenes: certain leather garments, whips, paddles, blindfolds, cuffs, and collars with studs or rings identify the dominant from the submissive.

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