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This entry is part of the BDSM Dictionary hosted by Informed Consent.

This is the version from 22 Mar 09, 11:01 PM. The full history of this entry will show any more recent versions.

ICcode for "Masochism"

[heading]The English dictionary definition

[item]1. 	(Psychiatry.) the condition in which sexual gratification
depends on suffering, physical pain, and humiliation.

[item]2. 	gratification gained from pain, deprivation,  degradation,
etc., inflicted or imposed on oneself, either as a result of one's own
actions or the actions of others, esp. the tendency to seek this form of
gratification.

[item]3. 	the act of turning one's destructive tendencies inward or upon
oneself.

[item]4. 	the tendency to find pleasure in self-denial, submissiveness, etc.

It should be noted that many members of the BDSM community seek out pain
principally since it enhances their sexual experience. However, for many
[about=Masochist]masochists[/about] the pain/suffering/humiliation is a
form of gratification within itself.



[heading]A common sexual perspective

Masochism is the counterpart to [about=sadism]sadism[/about], the sexual
pleasure or gratification of having pain or suffering inflicted upon the
self, often consisting of sexual fantasies or urges for being beaten,
humiliated, bound, tortured, or otherwise made to suffer, either as an
enhancement to or a substitute for sexual pleasure. The name is derived
from the name of the 19th century author
[about=Leopold.von.Sacher-Masoch]Leopold von Sacher-Masoch[/about],
known for his novel
Venus in Furs that dealt with highly masochistic themes.

A masochist does not in general take pleasure in any arbitary form of
pain, only in pain received under the pretext of enforcing authority,
and typically only that of a sexual nature. Likewise, a sadist usually
only takes pleasure in pain that is inflicted for reasons of punishment
and control, and most often for the indirect pleasure of the masochist.
Many [about=sadomasochistic]sadomasochistic[/about] activities involve
only mild pain or discomfort. Often they are focused primarily on
[about=roleplay]roleplay[/about].

The term [about=BDSM]BDSM[/about] has been created to describe the quite
common activities between consenting adults that contain sadistic and
masochistic elements. Many behaviors such as erotic
[about=spanking]spanking[/about] and love-bites that many people think
of only as "rough" sex also contain elements of sado-masochism.


[heading]See Also


[item][about=Masochism]Masochist[/about]

[item][about=Sadist]Sadist[/about]

[item][about=Sadism]Sadism[/about]

[item][about=sadomasochism]sadomasochism[/about]

(This entry in the BDSM Dictionary incorporates text from the
[url=http://www.londonfetishscene.com/wipi/index.php/Masochism]Masochism[/url]
article in Wipipedia.)

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