Sadomasochism A Form Of Deviance Essays - Psychiatric Diagnosis

Sadomasochism: A Form Of Deviance SADOMASOCHISM: A Form Of Deviance Sadomasochism is a sexually deviant behavior that is practiced by many people within todays society. It is the combination of two paraphilias, sadism and masochism, which are usually always linked together. An occasional mild or light form of sadomasochism (or Ss sexuality, that is when he or she is considered deviant. Unlike other paraphilias, sadomasochism includes a large population of women as well as men. They are nearly equally balanced in number. A paraphilia known as masochism is characterized by the desire or need to inflict pain and or humiliation, so that sexual arousal and fulfillment may be achieved. The term masochism refers to an Austrian historian and author, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1836-1895), who wrote various stories of male submissiveness. These stories consisted of men who received sexual pleasure by having their female partners inflict pain upon them (Ernulf&Innala, p635). A masochist may receive sexual gratification from several different types of pain and or humiliation. Some of these types may include being spanked, being whipped, being made to perform humiliating acts, being rudely insulted, being blindfolded, being disciplined, and being restrained (Rathus, Nevid, where discipline refers to psychological restraining, such as control, training, and nonphysical punishment (Ernulfs hands to choke their partner once consent is given. This practice is dangerous and can possibly even result in a tragic death (Rathus, Nevid, &Fichner-Rathus, p545-546). Masochisms counterpart, sadism, is the complete opposite for many reasons. Sadism is a parphilia, which is characterized by the association of sexual satisfaction with the infliction of pain or humiliation onto others. The term sadism refers to a French author and philosopher, Marquis de Sade (17401814). Marquis de Sade wrote stories of people who became sexually aroused by inflicting pain or humiliation on others. Some of his best known works are Justine (published in 1791) and Juliette (published in 1797). A sadist receives sexual gratification by role-playing. They usually play the authority figure who inflicts pain, humiliates, disciplines, and plays master to another person (Ernulf&Innala, p637). Most sadists hurt and humiliate willing partners who are usually masochists. A small minority of sadists may even attempt to stalk and attack their unwilling victims. This is a very dangerous and harmful to its participants. In fact, Sigmund Freud wrote extensively on sadism. In his res earch, he recognized its existence in the individual and tried to explain it and understand it further. The sexuality of most men, shows an admixture of aggression, of a desire to subdue, the biological significance of which lies in the necessity for overcoming the resistance of the sexual object by actions other than mere courting. Sadism would correspond to an aggressive component of the sexual instinct, which has become independent and exaggerated and has been brought to the foreground by displacement (Freud, p569). Through his works, it is shown that the average person may have sadist tendencies in him, but more often than not it is not a dominating aspect of his personality. When we combine sadism and masochism together, we arrive with the term sadomasochism (more commonly called S&M). S&M is a mutually gratifying sexual interaction between consenting sex partners, in which sexual arousal is associated with the inflicting and receiving of pain or humiliation (Rathus, Nevid, &Fichner-Rathus, p546). Most participants in sadomasochism usually participate on both sides of the spectrum. They often switch roles at different times during certain rituals. Usually, the person who is in a submissive role will play in that role for the remainder of the ritual. Then for the next ritual, he or she might