Masochism | Psychosexual Disorder - Encyclopedia Britannica

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience and security. Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos masochism Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics Images Quizzes 44 Questions from Britannica’s Most Popular Health and Medicine Quizzes Contents Health & Medicine Conditions & Diseases Mental Disorders

masochism psychosexual disorder Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/masochism Feedback External Websites Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites

• AllPsych Online - Sexual Masochism

Ask the Chatbot a Question Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot

masochism, a habit or practice of deriving sexual gratification from the infliction of pain or suffering on oneself. The term derives from the name of Chevalier Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1836–95), an Austrian author who wrote extensively about the satisfaction he gained by being beaten and subjugated. The type of pain involved in masochistic experiences can vary from discomfort inflicted in otherwise harmless love play—by tickling, hair pulling, and orgasm denial—to ritual humiliation with little violence, to severe whipping or beating. Usually the masochist retains some control over the situation and will end the aggressive behavior (sometimes through the use of a “safe word”) before it leads to outright sexual abuse, resulting in serious injury. While pain or suffering may cause a certain amount of sexual excitement in many persons, for the masochist it functions as the chief end—or at least an important element—of sexual activity. The term is frequently used in a looser social context in which masochism is defined as the behavior of one who seeks out and enjoys situations of humiliation or abuse.

Key People: Robert Mapplethorpe (Show more) Related Topics: sadomasochism sadism paraphilic disorder (Show more) See all related content

The association of pain with sexual pleasure takes the form of both masochism and sadism, or the obtaining of sexual pleasure through inflicting pain on others. Often, an individual will alternate the corresponding roles, becoming aroused through the experience of pain in one instance and through the infliction of pain in another (see sadomasochism).

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Brian Duignan.