What Is Sadism – English for Psychology

What is sadism?

Sadism, psychosexual disorder in which sexual urges are gratified by the infliction of pain on another person. The term was coined by the late 19th-century German psychologist Richard von Krafft-Ebing in reference to the Marquis de Sade, an 18th-century French nobleman who chronicled his own such practices. Sadism is often linked to masochism, in which sexual arousal results from receiving pain, and many individuals respond in either role. The sadist, however, often seeks a victim who is not a masochist, as some of the sexual excitement derives from the victim’s unwillingness. The level and extent of sadistic violence may vary considerably, from infliction of mild pain in otherwise harmless love play to extreme brutality, sometimes leading to serious injury or death. The satisfaction of the sadist may result not from inflicting actual physical pain but rather from the mental suffering of the victim. Sexual urges may limit the level of violence, but in some cases the aggressive impulse becomes predominant and the sadist progresses to more extreme expressions of his violent tendencies. Sadism may be a factor in some violent crimes, particularly rape and murder.

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Sadistic sexual violence ranges from sexual assault or rape, in which the rapist is motivated by the desire to dominate his victim, to sadistic sexual murder. In its least serious forms this can be seen as a distorted manifestation of male dominance in sexual interactions. The most serious forms include some of the most ghastly crimes inflicted by one person on another.

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“Aggression is often thought of as a product of negative feelings such as anger, frustration, and pain — yet this is not the whole story,” says Chester. Their research on the link between aggression and sadism suggest that positive feelings are also an important cause of human violence.

Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/

However, one explanation is that the perpertrators of these horrors were harshly and constantly emotionally, physically and sexually abused during childhood. Unfavorable experiences during childhood or in early stages of sexual development are believed to be one of the major contributing factors in the development of a sadistic personality. It has also been observed that sadism or a sadistic personality can also get developed in an individual through learning. For instance, continually being exposed to situations in which sexual enjoyment or of excitement with the anguish of others can cause sadism or sadomasochism. In other words, the suffering of others gives pleasure and observing that suffering feels good.

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