Sadomasochism

Sadomasochism, often shortened to S&M, is the experience of pleasure from either giving or receiving pain or humiliation. Its name comes from two authors: the Marquis de Sade, a French writer famous for his violent and libertine life and works, and Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, an Austrian writer whose novels depicted masochistic fantasies. While these behaviors and desires don’t have to be sexual, sadomasochism is a key part of consensual BDSM relationships.

The terms sadism and masochism were first used in psychiatry by Richard von Krafft-Ebing, and later expanded on by Sigmund Freud. Today, experts separate consensual BDSM from non-consensual sexual violence; the DSM-5 and ICD-11 consider consensual sadomasochism non-pathological. S&M can involve different levels of pain, dominance, and submission, and is practiced by people of any gender, often within negotiated roles like sadist, masochist, or switch. Forensic and medical classifications focus on consent and harm.

The word itself is a blend of sadism and masochism. Sadism comes from Marquis de Sade (1740–1814), whose writings included graphic scenes of violent sex, rape, torture, and murder, with characters who enjoyed inflicting pain. Masochism comes from Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1836–1895), whose novels, especially Venus in Furs, explored his fantasies of receiving pain and degradation. Krafft-Ebing introduced these terms clinically in 1890.

In 1905, Freud described them as stemming from abnormal childhood development, influenced by Krafft-Ebing. The compound term “sado-masochism” was first used by Viennese psychoanalyst Isidor Isaak Sadger in 1913. Earlier DSM classifications of sexual psychopathology were criticized as unscientific; the DSM-5 now labels consensual kinky interests like BDSM as non-pathological “unusual sexual interests,” reserving diagnoses for nonconsensual or harmful behaviors.

Historical origins

Sadomasochism has ancient roots, with some scholars seeing it as part of human culture. One early example is an Egyptian love song where a man wishes to be subjugated by a woman. Roman historian Juvenal described a woman who submitted to whipping by followers of Pan. Early libertine writers like John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, promoted ideas now linked to sadomasochism.

Etymology and definition

Krafft-Ebing’s 1886 work Psychopathia Sexualis defined masochism in terms of control, not necessarily pain.