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Investigating the underlying structure in sadomasochistically oriented behavior.

Pekka Santtila1, N Kenneth Sandnabba, Laurence Alison

  • 1Department of Psychology, Abo Akademi University, FIN-20500, Finland. psanttila@hotmail.com

Archives of Sexual Behavior
|April 27, 2002
PubMed
Summary

This study found that sadomasochistic behaviors are not random, but follow intensity scales within themes like pain and humiliation. Less intense sexual behaviors typically precede more intense ones.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Human Sexuality
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Sadomasochistic behavior is often categorized into broad themes: hypermasculinity, pain administration/receipt, physical restriction, and humiliation.
  • Previous research identified 29 individual sexual behaviors linked to these themes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if the 29 identified sexual behaviors represent different intensity scales within each of the four sadomasochistic themes.
  • To investigate the hierarchical structure of sadomasochistic behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • A multivariate analysis (POSAC) was employed.
  • 184 participants (22 women, 162 men) from sadomasochistically oriented clubs reported participation in 29 sexual behaviors over the past 12 months.

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Main Results:

  • The analysis supported the existence of cumulative scales within each of the four sadomasochistic themes.
  • Findings suggest a non-random order in the engagement of sadomasochistic behaviors.
  • Less intense behaviors generally precede more intense behaviors within themes.

Conclusions:

  • Sadomasochistic behaviors exhibit a structured hierarchy of intensity.
  • The engagement in specific sadomasochistic acts follows a predictable progression from less to more intense expressions.