Sadism and Masochism : Sadomasochism
Sadism is the infliction of pain and suffering on another person for reasons of sexual pleasure[?]. Medically it is considered to be a paraphilia. The word derives from the Marquis de Sade.
The counterpart of sadism is masochism, consisting of sexual fantasies, urges or behaviour that involves being beaten, humiliated[?], bound, tortured, or otherwise made to suffer, in order to enhance or achieve sexual excitement. The name is derived from that of 19th century author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch.
The German psychiatrist Richard Freiherr von Krafft-Ebing mentioned sadism and masochism in his 1886 book Psychopathia Sexualis, a famous study of "sexual perversity".
Sigmund Freud combined the two into a single idea known as sadomasochism (often abbreviated as S&M or S/M).
- to do: psychoanalytic theories of aggression and sadomasochism
Sadism and masochism in real life
The term BDSM has been created to describe the quite common activities between consenting adults that contain sadistic and masochistic elements. Many behaviors such as erotic spanking and love-bites[?] that many people think of only as "rough" sex also contain elements of sado-masochism.
In certain extreme cases, sadism and masochism can include fantasies, sexual urges or behaviour that cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning, to the point that they can be considered part of a mental disorder. However, this is an uncommon case, and psychiatrists are now moving towards regarding sadism and masochism as not being regarded as disorders in themselves, but only as disordered when associated with other problems such as a personality disorder.
Unfortunately, some disordered individuals commit crimes with a strong sadistic element. This is generally considered to be caused by personality disorders. Recently, there have been theories that many of these personality disorders have been caused by brain damage.
Sadism and masochism in fiction
In general, the depiction of sadism and masochism in fiction tends to be portrayed from the viewpoint of masochistic fantasy.
Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's novel Venus in Furs is essentially one long masochistic fantasy, where the male principal character encourages his mistress to mistreat him.
The Story of O is another classic masochistic novel, this time written by a woman, Pauline Réage. In this novel, the female principal character is kept in a chateau and mistreated by a group of men.
As of 2003, sado-masochistic themes are now common in mainstream erotic fiction[?], to the point of cliché.
To be written:
- Courtly love as a predecessor of masochism
See also:
References:
- Anita Phillips. A Defense of Masochism, ISBN 0312192584
I haue bin studying, how to compare
And for because the world is populous,
I cannot do it: yet Ile hammer't out.
My Soule, the Father: and these two beget
And these same Thoughts, people this Little World
For no thought is contented. The better sort,
With scruples, and do set the Faith it selfe
It is as hard to come, as for a Camell
Thoughts tending to Ambition, they do plot
May teare a passage through the Flinty ribbes
And for they cannot, dye in their owne pride.
That they are not the first of Fortunes slaues,
Who sitting in the Stockes, refuge their shame
And in this Thought, they finde a kind of ease,
Of such as haue before indur'd the like.
And none contented. Sometimes am/am.html">am/am.html">am/am.html">am I king.html">King;
And so I am. Then crushing penurie,
Then am I king'd againe: and by and by,
And straight am nothing. But what ere I am,
Musick
nor.html">Nor I, nor any man.html">man, that but man is,
With being nothing. Musicke do I heare?
When Time is broke, and no Proportion kept?
And heere haue I the daintinesse of eare,
But for the Concord of my State and Time,
I wasted Time, and now doth Time waste me:
My Thoughts, are minutes; and with Sighes they iarre,
Whereto my finger, like a Dialls point,
Now sir, the sound.html">sound that tels what houre it is,
Which is the bell: so Sighes, and Teares, and Grones,
Runs poasting on, in Bullingbrookes proud ioy,
This Musicke mads me, let it sound no.
On
wordlookup.net
All is still licensed under the GNU FDL.
It uses material from the wikipedia.
|
|