Dacryphilia

Dacryphilia is a form of paraphilia where pleasure is derived from tears and/or emotional situations. It is most often associated with sexual arousal, though the term covers all forms of pleasure from the tears of others. The arousal is achieved when viewing a person in emotional distress. It carries the theme where a person (often a dominant in a BDSM relationship) induces another (the submissive) to cry, or otherwise show a strong emotion.

BDSM

Dacryphilia is often the basis of humiliation in the 'pain/restriction/servitude/humiliation' spectrum of BDSM, for example, a dominant verbally abuses the submissive in order to elicit a tearful response. Similarly, a dominant may physically torture the submissive to draw tears in a pain scene. In this way, dacryphilia is a form of sadism.

The psychological aspects of dacryphilia are that the causative entity displays the power to control the psychological response from the receiver. This form of power-play therefore brings pleasure, and for some, sexual arousal. Passive dacryphilia involves a third party who also achieves pleasure in watching someone in emotional distress, usually caused by the scening dominant, though the reason does not restrict the pleasure - a person may enjoy the tears of others despite whatever the cause.

Guilt

Dacryphilia, without the sexual aspects, can also be extended to the colloquial term, 'guilt trip', where one party explicitly acts as a matyr to distress another. 'Guilt trips' are popularly associated with mothers, spouses (in particular wives), girlfriends and friends - most often female. Males may also be involved in dacryphilia, however it is unrecognised in popular culture.

Overuse of dacryphilia in a relationship can strain it and often causes psychological problems for both parties. The one engaging in dacryphilia may not realise that they are doing so.

Other usage

Dacryphilia is sometimes used to express the pleasure experienced through one's own tears, often as an emotional release.

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