A masochist is someone who enjoys receiving pain, while a sadist is someone who enjoys inflicting it.
A masochistic person gains pleasure from experiencing various forms of pain.
A sexual masochist experiences sexual pleasure in response to pain, denial, or humiliation.
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However, masochism can also apply to more general and often less healthy behaviors.
Keep reading to learn more about the differences between a masochist vs. a sadist.
Masochist vs. Sadist
While ‘sadist’and ‘masochist’are often linked, they have different meanings.
Such conflicts were associated with characteristics of personality disorders anddepression.
What Is Self-Defeating Personality Disorder?
While sexual masochism disorderiscategorized as a mental disorder, emotional masochism was ultimately not added to the DSM.
Some potential indicators include:
What Causes People to Be Masochists?
The exact causes of masochism are not entirely clear.
Different types of masochism may have differing causes and more research is needed.
One theory about the source of masochistic tendencies may be traced to childhood.
This desire for pain, punishment, or revenge may be redirected internally, with the child punishing themselves.
One 2020 study published in theJournal of Personalityfound a connection between non-sexual masochism andantisocial personalitytraits.
In this study, masochistic people enjoyed eating spicy food, receiving painful massages, and hearing disgusting jokes.
One 2020 study found no such connection.
Instead, researchers suggest that such interests represent a broadening of sexual interests, not a fixation.
Research suggests that motivation, context, and emotion can impact how masochists process and perceive painful stimuli.
A therapist can help you understand why you might seek out pain.
For sexual masochists or sadists, seeking out a kink-friendly therapist may be helpful.
Finding ways to tolerate distress better and practicingemotional acceptanceof negative emotions can be helpful.
Learning some more healthy coping mechanisms can give you alternatives that can be healthier and more productive.
Where a masochist enjoys receiving pain, a sadist enjoys giving it.
Research suggests that both masochism and sadism can be part of a healthy sex life between consenting partners.
However, such interests can become a problem if they lead to distress or functional impairment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, masochism is a psychological tendency to find satisfaction and enjoyment in pain.
This may lead people to actively or passively place themselves in situations where they are subjected to pain.
This does not mean that they enjoy all pain, however.
Such urges or behaviors lead to distress and potentially harm oneself or others.
Sexual masochism is only considered a disorder if it is creating distress or harm.
If not, then it is considered a pop in of sexual interest.
The condition can also involve debilitating sexually sadistic fantasies that have not been acted on.
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)One Hundred Years of Masochism: Literary Texts, Social and Cultural Contexts.
Netherlands: Brill; 2022.
United Kingdom: Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Incorporated; 2023.
Answers from practitioners of sexual masochism/submission.The Journal of Sex Research.
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MSD Manual Professional Edition.Sexual masochism disorder - psychiatric disorders.
Merck Manual Professional Version.Sexual sadism disorder.
