Published on July 24, 2025 – by the editorial team
If you’ve heard the word masochism but don’t fully understand what it means, it refers to a behavior where an individual voluntarily subjects themselves to situations in which they are humiliated, beaten, tied up, or placed at the center of other sexual acts. The ultimate purpose of these acts is to derive sexual pleasure. Abuse becomes the mechanism through which the subject—who exhibits this particular psychological profile—does not feel fear, but instead experiences arousal and sexual pleasure. Within a sexual context, this disorder leads over time to growing discomfort, and in the long run tends to damage the person’s behavior, as they repeatedly submit to abuse for the specific purpose of experiencing gratification.
Theoretically, this specific behavior should be included within the category of paraphilias. This is a condition in which the subject's mental and emotional states are abnormal, and the satisfaction of sexual urges is achieved through acts that fall outside the norms of acceptable sexual behavior.
However, not all individuals with masochistic interests—those who feel sexual pleasure from undergoing humiliation—can be classified as having a paraphilic disorder. According to diagnostic criteria, in order for this to be considered a disorder, the behavior must cause impairment or a behavioral problem in the individual’s life.
From a temporal perspective, this type of behavior must persist over time. In practice, someone with masochistic tendencies must engage in humiliating practices continuously for a period of at least six months.
Currently, the exact causes of this paraphilic disorder—where sexual arousal is linked to being humiliated—are not well known. However, a phone survey conducted in Australia in the early 2000s provided some interesting statistics. According to the data, at least 2% of men and 1% of women said that, in the previous 12 months, they had consciously engaged in sexual behavior related to sadism.
In reality, beyond what is considered a psychological disorder, sadomasochistic practices between consenting and informed adults are widespread and relatively common.
These activities often follow a gradual path and can become long-lasting. In most cases, people who consent to being humiliated during sexual activities are fully aware that these are actions without physical or psychological consequences. They are essentially sexual games that do not cause harm.
However, in some extreme cases, these practices may cross certain boundaries. They can cause physical injuries that may have lasting effects.
In severe situations, these injuries may even lead to death.
How does this type of practice concretely manifest? These acts can be performed by a willing partner or directly by the individual on themselves. Examples include:
Alternatively, the individual may seek a consenting partner willing to inflict pain and humiliation. These practices may include:
Diagnosis of masochism, according to mental health guidelines, is based on repeated behaviors. These include:
Treatment approaches often prove ineffective and are rarely curative.
Among these behaviors, there is a category in which individuals deliberately reduce their ability to breathe in order to intensify the pleasure of orgasm. This is known as autoerotic asphyxiation.
Objects such as scarves may be used to simulate suffocation. These items are sometimes tied to objects in the room, like the headboard or a doorknob.
These are extremely dangerous practices. If the person loses consciousness while still tied, they may suffer brain damage or even die.
To better understand psychological dynamics related to behavioral patterns, see our article on avoidance in social anxiety.
More details are also available on the Wikipedia page on masochism.
It’s a behavior in which a person derives sexual arousal from being humiliated, harmed, or dominated by themselves or a consenting partner.
No. It becomes a disorder only when it causes functional impairment or persistent distress over time.
Yes. These can include physical injuries, neurological damage, or even death in the case of autoerotic asphyxiation.
Diagnosis is based on recurring fantasies or behaviors over at least six months, causing distress or impairing social or work functioning.
← Also read: Avoidance in Social Anxiety – causes and consequences