In psychology, masochism is defined as deriving pleasure (often sexual, but sometimes emotional) from pain, humiliation, or suffering. This was first defined by psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing in the late 19th century, and was based on the writings of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, whose novels contained themes of erotic submission.
Although commonly spoken about in sexual contexts, masochism can also manifest in the seeking of emotionally painful situations or enduring hardship for the sake of psychological gratification. In clinical psychology, masochism is classified as paraphilic interests when it leads to distress, impairment, or injury. Although, research emphasizes that in non-vulnerable contexts, such as in BDSM (bondage, domination, sadism, and masochism), masochistic behavior is not pathological. Evidence suggests that participants in voluntary masochistic activities report stress relief, increased intimacy, and greater psychological wellness.
The need to differentiate between voluntary and desired exploration and harmful compulsion is essential to contemporary psychology. From a therapeutic approach, masochistic behavior is looked at as either clinical sadism or whether it is safe, consensual, and balanced, masochism focused on the daily activities a person engages in. When they are deemed problematic, the masochist may undergo psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral strategies. Fundamentally, masochism exemplifies the elusive matrix of pain, pleasure, and psychological significance.