Sex Sadism

Sexual Sadism - Symptom, Cause and Treatment

Sexual sadism involves acts in which a person derives sexual pleasure from inflicting physical or psychologic suffering on another person.

Sadism is the sexual pleasure or gratification in the infliction of pain and suffering upon another person. Medically it is considered to be a paraphilia . The word is derived from the name of the Marquis de Sade, a prolific French writer of sadistic novels.

Sadism is deriving pleasure, often sexual, from mistreating others. Like other paraphilias, some people have fantasies which are sadistic, but they never act upon them. Also, some people have sexual urges of a sadistic nature, and they find a willing partner who agrees to participate in the sadistic activity. There are people, however, who have sadistic sexual urges who find others whom they victimize with their behavior. Some of the severe activities involved in sexual sadism include burning, beating, stabbing, raping, and killing. Usually the thoughts and/or behaviors of sexual sadism begin in adolescence or early adulthood. The behaviors are not only chronic, but they usually increase in severity with time.

• Over a period of at least 6 months, patients have recurrent, intense, sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving the acts in which psychological or physical suffering of the victim is sexually exciting to the patient.
• The fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
• This variant is named for the activities of the Marquis de Sade (not part of the DSM-IV criterion).

Some amount of sadism and masochism is commonly play-acted in healthy sexual relationships, and mutually compatible partners often seek one another out. For example, the use of silk handkerchiefs for simulated bondage and mild spanking during sexual activity are common practices between consenting partners and are not considered sadomasochistic.

Differential Diagnosis:

Some disorders have similar or even the same symptoms. The clinician, therefore, in his/her diagnostic attempt has to differentiate against the following disorders which need to be ruled out to establish a precise diagnosis.

Anti-social Personality Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Treatment of Sexual Sadism

Treatment typically involves psychotherapy aimed at uncovering and working through the underlying cause of the behavior. Of those who come to the attention of the criminal justice system, the sexual sadism has usually manifested itself in dangerous activity that has harmed others. The same may or may not be true of those presenting to medical or mental health facilities.

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Site last updated: March 4, 2008