ABSTRACT
Sexual masochism is a paraphilia in which sexual arousal and/or orgasm are achieved by having pain inicted upon oneself, experiencing embarrassment or humiliation by one’s sexual partner, or by being controlled through bondage, regulations, or commands.1 It is the eroticization of submission. Masochistic acts that may be sought with a partner include paddling, spanking, whipping, beating, cutting, restraint (physical bondage), blindfolding (sensory bondage), electrical shocks, pinning and piercing (inbulation), and humiliation (e.g., being forced to crawl and bark like a dog, or being subjected to verbal abuse). Masochism may sometimes be seen in a curious mix with urophilia (bringing humiliation by being urinated upon) or coprophilia (bringing humiliation by being defecated upon). Forced cross-dressing may be sought for its humiliating associations. In infantilism, a variation of masochism, the individual may have a desire to be treated as a helpless infant and clothed in diapers.
