Is there a psychological side to BDSM sex???

Question

Why do some men and women submit themselves to another man or women to be dominated by them and physically, verbally and sexually abused by them... I know it adds to the pleasure for those people... but what actually makes such acts pleasurable for these people when if done to someone else the person might start crying...

Answer 1

There definitely is a psychological component to the world of BDSM. However, that can be said of a lot of things. For example, why do some people watch American football, professional wrestling, and boxing, while other people are repulsed by the violence inherent in these sports? Is there something wrong with a fan of these? My answer is no.

It's similar in the context of BDSM. It's a bit presumptuous to claim that people who are into that lifestyle have some psychological trauma from their childhood. Indeed, the most up-to-date catalogue of mental disorders has purposely removed BDSM from its listings. It is simply how some people has decided to express their sexuality.

To the question of why some people are into this, the best answer that I can offer is that it is fun for them. To an outsider, it does seem to be a strange world where one person commits acts of abuse upon another, but within that world, the viewpoint is rather different.

From a physiological point-of-view, a number of activities in the lifestyle generate endorphins in the body, which stimulate the pleasure centres of the brain. In a sense, the act of "abusing" or "being abused" is actually rather pleasurable and can heighten the natural euphoria that comes from sexual activity in general. This doesn't happen in everyone obviously, but for some, it is like a natural high.

Keep in mind that BDSM is not abuse in its truest sense. Abuse occurs whenever there is real harm caused, and that will generally happen only when one person does not consent to a given activity. As a rule within the lifestyle, non-consensual acts are not considered BDSM, but actual abuse that is quite illegal. Furthermore, context is very important. A person who is into masochism would still likely find going to the dentist to be an unpleasurable experience. Someone who is demeaned by their lover would not accept similar behaviour from their supervisor at work. A woman who is bound up by her husband prior to sex would still suffer psychological scars if she were the victim of rape.

The working of the human mind still hold mysteries regarding responses. One person's pile of junk is another person's art. Parents and teenagers will differ in what constitutes music. Similarly, some will find a beauty within BDSM that others will find repulsive, and as long as no harm emerges from it, this would then be an acceptable behaviour trait and a legitimate part of one's psyche.

Answer 2

I think that it is totally a Psychological issue. Someone did it as a report in my Psych class. Most women who "submit" were abused by males in some form as a child. Men, had over bearing and/or controlling mothers. There are studies out there, however, I didn't do this report in class, so I don't know names.

Answer 3

It is *not* abuse. Everything that someone has done is consentual. The partners negotiate whatever is going to happen before it does. Anyone into BDSM would never ever involve someone who didn't consent. BDSM activities can be very tame (light bondage) or very heavy (bruising and blood). Everything is consentual, always. Nothing is done illegally.

I hope this helps you somehow.

Answer 4

Many people bear awful, crushing responsibilties in their daily lives. It can be psychologically cleansing and relieving of stress to - in a visceral, primitive act (like sex) - give up control to someone else.

Thats basically it.

Answer 5

watch drawn together