We explain what a masochist is and what this practice consists of. Also, how masochism is considered in culture.
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What is a masochist?
A person who practices masochism is called a masochist, that is, the practice of inflicting pain at will (physical or emotional) by one's own hand or by the hand of others, obtaining from it pleasure or enjoyment of some kind, especially of a sexual nature. It can be used together with the term “Sado” (from sadistic), that is, sadomasochistic, when pleasure is also obtained from the pain inflicted and not only from the pain suffered.
The word masochist comes from the surname of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1836-1895), Austrian writer whose novels, especially Venus of fur (1870), generated scandal in the society of the time by depicting characters addicted to physical pain and emotional suffering, humiliation or oppression, by their female consorts. The first time this term was used with this meaning was in the essay sexual psychopathy (1886) by the German psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing.
In general terms, masochistic people sexually enjoy pain or the domination to which others may subject them. Otherwise, your sexual experience is incomplete or unsatisfactory. This often involves physical and/or emotional subjugation situations, such as bondage, physical abuse, gagging, restraint, or simply aggressive sexual intercourse.
Therefore the ideal partner of a masochist usually be a person with sadistic tendencies, since one enjoys the pain received and the other the pain it causes. These types of couples or relationships are usually called sado-maso either bondageand in their encounters the use of sex toys such as chains, whips, ropes, candles, etc. is common.
The orgasm, finally, is usually given to the subject as a reward, after having endured the punishment. In some cases, the members of this type of sexual relationship exchange their positions, which is known in sadomasochistic slang as switch.
Masochism in culture
masochism has existed since ancient times as the presence of representations of flagellation scenes in the sexual sphere in Ancient Greece and the Italian Etruscan period seems to indicate. Some of them seemed dedicated to specific gods (Artemis, for example). These representations often went hand in hand with sadism, as is the case in the work of the Marquis de Sade, a French writer from whose name the term comes.
The logic of masochism It has been widely studied by the various schools of psychoanalysis, which have come up with various possible explanations and treatments for it, but with the passage of time Society has become more tolerant towards this type of sexual paraphilias disincorporating them from the compendium of psychological diseases or disorders that deserve urgent attention.
Masochistic encounters are currently relatively accepted by public opinion. tend to vary in intensity, meaning and specific narrative often reproducing traumatic situations from childhood or adolescence, giving the subjected subject the opportunity to purge guilt, to give up control or simply to relive situations of oppression that were secretly pleasurable. However, each specific case obeys particular reasons and logic. One of the best-known masochists in history was Lawrence of Arabia, a famous English soldier, adventurer and archaeologist.
See also: Fellatio.
References
- “Masochism: pain and pleasure in the brain” in Muy Interesante Magazine.
- “Masochism” in Wikipedia, Free Encyclopedia.
