What is Sexual Sadism?

It is important to distinguish between "Sadism", which is the term used in conjunction with Sadistic Personality Disorder, and "Sexual Sadism" which may be associated with SPD yet is classified as one of the paraphilias because of the specific sexual component. The two are most certainly related and an understanding of sadism is paramount to the understanding of sexual sadism but this particular section deals only with the paraphilia of sexual sadism.

Sexual sadism refers to the derivation of sexual pleasure from the infliction of pain, suffering and/or humiliation upon another person. The pain and suffering of the victim, which may be both physical and psychological, is pivotal to the sexual arousal and pleasure. The World Health Organization defines sadism as "preference for sexual activity that involves bondage or infliction of pain or humiliation. The fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviours cause clinically in other important areas of function.

Historical Context:

The term "sadism" derives from French medical literature of the early 19th century in connection with the writings of the Marquis de Sade whose novels depict scenes of torture, cruelty and killing for erotic purposes.

"The experience of sexual, pleasurable sensations (including orgasm) produced by acts of cruelty, bodily punishment afflicted on one's person or when witnessed in others, be they animals or human beings. It may also consist of an innate desire to humiliate, hurt, wound or even destroy others in order, thereby, to create sexual pleasure in ones self"

Mild sadism in a consensual sexual relationship and the major category involving injury or worse, usually in a non-consensual relationship. In both, the element of pain to the victim is the sexual stimulus.

Characteristics/Predominate Features:

Mild Sexual Sadism; Mild sadism, referred to as S&M, bondage & discipline, or dominance & submission is a specialized subculture in the homosexual community and in large cities networks exist for those who have this interest.

It is not, however, limited to this group. Sexual sadists of both sexes often seek out masochistic partners. Sexually sadistic behaviour in these consensual cases may involve: Role playing with dominant and submissive roles: master-slave, governess-pupil,etc.

The dominant partner placing the submissive one in a position of helplessness and then applies some form of discipline or punishment, usually accompanied by verbal degradation use of gags and blindfolds to render the submissive partner helpless and immobile the administration of pain, humiliation or bondage is effected through such acts as whipping or flagellation, usually applied to the buttocks cross-dressing the submissive partner treating the submissive like an animal and/or making him/her crawl confining the submissive to a cage humiliated by being forced to wear a diaper or lick the dominant's boots. Binding or clamping the breasts/nipples/penis of the submissive urinating or defecating on the submissive and forcing ingestion on the victim.

Characteristics/Predominate Features: Major Sexual Sadism; Major sexual sadism, on other other hand, is usually not consensual and involves injury or death to the victim.

The element of fear in the victim and complete control of the victim is the major sexual stimuli in major sexual sadism. Some of the more severe activities involved in this behavior may include: severe beatings torture, burning, cutting, stabbing in the breast or buttocks (piquerism)rape (see Sadistic Rape)murder (see Sadistic or Lust Murder) vampirism necrophilia