masochism
Pleasure from pain
Masochism is deriving pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from one's own pain or humiliation.
In casual use, it describes any tendency to seek out suffering or difficulty: Running marathons in summer heat is pure masochism.
A masochist enjoys such experiences; masochistic describes the tendency.
The term comes from Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, an Austrian novelist whose works featured such themes.
Sustained experience of distress
- agonyExtreme physical or emotional pain
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- tortureDeliberate infliction of suffering
self-inflicted · endurance · discomfort · ache · throb · soreness · hurt · distress
Pleasure from inflicting pain
- bondageInvoluntary subjugation to another
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- dominatrixFemale BDSM leader
- flagellationBeating with a whip
spanking · whipping · restraint · leather · dungeon · safe word · kink · fetish
Study of mental disorders
- self-punishmentHurting oneself for wrongdoing
- self-destructiveHarmful to oneself
- abnegationRejection of oneself
- neurosisFunctional mental disorder
compulsion · psychoanalysis · Freudian · paraphilia · disorder · pathology · therapy · repression
Superior influence over others
- submissiveReadily yielding to control
- obedienceCompliance with authority
- surrenderCease resistance, yield
- yieldingBending under pressure
compliance · subservience · deference · acquiescence · passivity · power exchange · control · subjugation
Pleasure from satisfying desires
- enjoymentState of relishing something
- thrillSurge of intense excitement
- euphoriaIntense emotional high
- endorphinsBody's innate pain blockers
ecstasy · satisfaction · arousal · stimulation · sensation · excitement · rush · intensity
suffering
Sustained experience of distress
- agonyExtreme physical or emotional pain
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- anguishIntense mental suffering
torture · self-inflicted · endurance · discomfort · ache · throb · soreness · hurt · distress · affliction
sadism
Pleasure from inflicting pain
- bondageInvoluntary subjugation to another
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- dominatrixFemale BDSM leader
flagellation · spanking · whipping · restraint · leather · dungeon · safe word · kink · fetish · roleplay
psychopathology
Study of mental disorders
- self-punishmentHurting oneself for wrongdoing
- self-destructiveHarmful to oneself
- abnegationRejection of oneself
neurosis · compulsion · psychoanalysis · Freudian · paraphilia · disorder · pathology · therapy · repression · sublimation
dominance
Superior influence over others
- submissiveReadily yielding to control
- obedienceCompliance with authority
- surrenderCease resistance, yield
yielding · compliance · subservience · deference · acquiescence · passivity · power exchange · control · subjugation · humiliation
gratification
Pleasure from satisfying desires
- enjoymentState of relishing something
- thrillSurge of intense excitement
- euphoriaIntense emotional high
endorphins · ecstasy · satisfaction · arousal · stimulation · sensation · excitement · rush · intensity · release
- kinkdom, domme, submissives, master, slave
- psychosexualitylibido, sexuality, sexual orientation, heterosexuality, homosexuality
- sexual disorderssexual dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, vaginismus, low libido
- sexualitysexual orientation, sexual behavior, erotica, sexual identity, bisexual
- existentialismexistence, authenticity, existential angst, existential crisis, angst
masochismsadism
Pleasure from inflicting pain
inflicting pain · cruelty · dominance · aggression · brutality
masochismpain avoidance
Shunning unpleasant sensations
hedonism · pleasure-seeking · self-preservation · epicureanism
masochismself-care
Maintaining personal wellbeing
self-compassion · self-love · self-protection · gentleness · kindheartedness
masochist, masochistic, sadomasochism, masochists, masochistically, sadomasochists, sadomasochistic, sadomasochist