Sadism and masochism — a problem or variety of sexual life?
Sexologists and psychologists say that healthy sex is a necessary process between a man and a woman who are a couple. This is the key to a strong and fulfilling relationship. But is a relationship normal if sex is fraught with violence and humiliation? Are sadism and masochism indicators of abnormal relationships?
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What opinions do scientists and other smart people put forward?
The German scientist Richard von Krafft-Ebing, studying this issue, defined such anomalous relationships. The desire to harm a sexual partner is sadism, and the opposite desire is masochism. Sadism is the desire for violent behavior in order to obtain pleasure from the suffering of a partner.
Initially, such signs were characteristic only of a person’s sexual life, but over time, moving into everyday life, sadism has a significant impact on the psychological state of people. Masochism is the opposite manifestation of sadism, when people are dominated by the desire to experience and feel pain.
German sociologist Erich Fromm believed that the two concepts — sadism and masochism — cannot exist separately from each other. The degree of manifestation of one or the other depends on the internal qualities of a person, his emotional state and dependence. Sometimes a person changes, and a sadist becomes a masochist.
The more pronounced his sadistic tendencies become, the more regular self-abasement becomes necessary. In such a symbiosis, the partners cannot be completely separated from each other. Due to the loss of personal support, partners become completely dependent on each other.
By studying the effects of this process on the body, we can see the relationship between pain, violence, sex and the release of hormones in the body. Let”s take a closer look at the processes that occur in our body during sex and satisfaction of needs.
- The hormone testosterone, which is produced during sexual intercourse, directly depends on the level of subordination of the couple. Basically, the dominant partner has higher testosterone levels, while the submissive partner has lower testosterone levels.
- Conversely, the hormone endorphin, which is released during physical pain, brings satisfaction and pleasure.
- The release of lactic acid that occurs during muscle tension gives people a feeling of pleasure.
- Chemicals in the brain during stress and shock are the formation of serotonin and melatonin.
Read also: Sexual sadism on screen, in literature and in life
Popular culture gives us ideas about sexual sadism that are far from reality. Slap in the face, obscene language, unusual toys,..
Although sadomasochism promotes vital processes in the body, it is important to understand that it is much more harmful to the psyche due to its cumulative effect.
Sadomasochism and society
Despite the fact that we have all been living in the modern world for a long time, many topics still remain taboo. cannot be discussed in intellectual society or on television. Despite all the controversy and accusations on the issue of sadomasochism, they are widely studied in contemporary art.
Although the theme of sadomasochism is most in demand among filmmakers, artists and photographers, it is modern cinema that gives us the most detailed understanding of the secrets of our subconscious. Such creativity is full of hidden sexual desires and needs, revealing true feelings and emotions, precisely those that are on the verge of social recognition.
Films about sadomasochism expose us to issues of inequality between people and on a larger scale. For those who have extremely negative views of sadists and masochists, such films help rethink and overcome stereotypes about gender, power and relationships in the real world. Most films about sadomasochism are considered classics of cinema, but many controversies arose after their release.
One of the masterpieces of erotic cinema, Luis Buñuel”s “Beauty of the Day” gained attention in the late 1960s, when the topic of sex was an unspoken no-no. Its director painted a very provocative picture, full of irony and sarcasm. He used surrealism to talk about infidelity, immorality and lack of ideals among people, showing the importance of living with dreams and hopes.
The film — Romance X, directed by Catherine Blair in 1999, talks about the problems of sexuality, gender relations and violence. As one of the few female directors, she was able to explore this topic as frankly and outrageously as possible.
Its main character is a young teacher in a difficult relationship who explores the world of sexual pleasure through masochistic anonymous contact. The main idea of the film is that both women and men need to properly realize their fantasies and desires.
