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[Poll]

Is Sadism a mental illness?

Yes, Sadism is a mental illness.

36% (24)

No, Sadism is normal.

63% (41)

Total Votes : 65

(last vote on : 5/2/2013 2:38:06 PM)
(Poll will run till: -- )

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Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/2/2013 11:54:51 AM

Pyramus

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Quote from this short paper:
http://www.ipgcounseling.com/sites/ipgcounseling.com/files/content/pdf/3psychology_bdsm.pdf

quote:

Let’s start with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association - the Bible of mental health. The fourth edition of this tome considers us "Paraphiliacs". ... Moreover, like the Catholic Church, the DSM IV makes no distinction between fantasy and behavior; again, the definition for Sexual Sadism only says you have to have "recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies... in which the psychological or physical suffering... of the victim (sic) is sexually exciting."

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RE: Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/2/2013 12:00:50 PM

LadyPact

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The upcoming fifth edition removes us as such.

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RE: Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/2/2013 12:17:09 PM

estimer

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Psychology is BS for the most part. That is good evidence.

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RE: Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/2/2013 12:30:21 PM

AurumCaminus

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BDSM may utilize the same terms as some of the proper names of a variety of mental illnesses, but we tend to be referring to vastly different things.

There is a world of difference between a functional individual with less typical interests and a mentally dysfunctional person acting out a psychological compulsion.

Much like the Occam's Razor of psychology, "Its only a problem, if there's a problem."

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Post #: 4

RE: Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/2/2013 12:32:11 PM

Charles6682

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Yea,I'm waiting for the DSM-V to come out.It should be coming out in May of this year.The DSM-IV is outdated.Either way,the DSM is still open to debate.Sometimes I think these "disorders" are not science based but rather what "society" says is a disorder.To make my point,homosexuality use to be considered a mental illness back in the old days.Then as society slowing starting to accept homosexuality,the term was dropped from the DSM.The DSM is open for debate.It is a good guide to follow but I wouldn't hold it as the final authority.

< Message edited by Charles6682 -- 3/2/2013 12:36:46 PM >

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RE: Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/2/2013 1:19:56 PM

OsideGirl

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I think Sadism in it's truest sense is a mental illness. That would be defined as inflicting and enjoying pain without consent.

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RE: Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/2/2013 1:55:56 PM

chatterbox24

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uncontrolled, definitely.

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RE: Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/2/2013 2:03:16 PM

ResidentSadist

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Even DSM IV makes the distinction between sexual sadism as a paraphilia and the type of that is a mental illness and involves pulling wings off of flies and torturing pets in your youth then growing up to be serial killers.

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RE: Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/2/2013 3:01:40 PM

RemoteUser

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I'm more interested in what's not said here, about masochists. Desiring pain for sexual purposes is not a mental illness either; pain is a part of life. I'm a diehard romantic, but not stupid - I know that the deeper love goes, the more you can be hurt. People still fall in love.

Directly answering the OP though: sexual sadism is not a mental illness any more than masturbation is (and that's been lauded as a mental illness in its day, as well, per the link you referenced). Sadism on its own as a concept is too broad to apply a moral label to; however if only viewed as a pathological disorder i.e. a subtype of Millon's, then mental illness may apply (although mental aberrance is more accurate, since the behaviour may be learned and therefore possibly reversed or tamed through drugs and/or counsel).

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RE: Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/2/2013 4:44:36 PM

HarryVanWinkle

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What she said. The vast majority of "Sadists" in the BDSM world are not clinical sadists, they're sadistic tops. When I top, I can be a very sadistic top. But, only when I'm topping a very masochistic bottom, as I have this thing called a sense of empathy. What I get off on, as a top, is getting the bottom off.

quote:

ORIGINAL: OsideGirl

I think Sadism in it's truest sense is a mental illness. That would be defined as inflicting and enjoying pain without consent.

Edited to add that I didn't vote in the "poll" because there weren't enough choices and neither of the choices offered were acceptable to me.

< Message edited by HarryVanWinkle -- 3/2/2013 4:45:57 PM >

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Post #: 10

RE: Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/2/2013 6:11:51 PM

littlewonder

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yes and no.

Sadism when it comes to the non-consensual and when it interferes with the rest of your life, is a mental illness.

Sadism when it comes to those who consent to it and it does not cause problems with the rest of your world, is not a mental illness.

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RE: Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/2/2013 8:19:27 PM

DesFIP

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The requirements of a paraphilia are that it negatively impacts your life.

Let's use shoe fetish as an example op. If you can look at shoes online and window shop during lunch hour and be satisfied with that, it's not negatively impacting your life. If you can't pay your rent because of the shoes you buy to masturbate to, it is negatively impacting your life.

If you give good pain to someone who willing accepts it, it's not a problem. If you are kidnapping strangers to do this, it is a problem. Crossing over into criminal territory as well but that's a different discussion.

If you can't see the difference, then yes, you have a problem.

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RE: Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/3/2013 4:57:56 AM

theRose4U

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quote:

ORIGINAL: OsideGirl

I think Sadism in it's truest sense is a mental illness. That would be defined as inflicting and enjoying pain without consent.

Umm yeah, I've had more than one ex-boss that was this way...doesn't mean I ever wanted to see them naked.
Jus sayin!!

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RE: Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/3/2013 5:17:16 AM

LaTigresse

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To me, maybe yes, maybe no.

As RS said, there are extremes of sadism that cause a person to be unable to function as a constructive positive member of society. They are a threat to their communities....and unable, or unwilling, to control themselves and their urges.

I can't say that I wouldn't enjoy inflicting pain on some, non consenting, people I've met. But, I have morals........and am allergic to prison. The difference for ME, is that I can simply use my imagination and let that be enough. I am no danger to them.

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Post #: 14

RE: Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/3/2013 5:28:46 AM

ChatteParfaitt

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Sadism the way *I* define it is a mental illness. The important components being that the acts are non-consensual, and that they escalate in intensity, much like an addiction.

If I have to pull numbers out of my ass, I would say 75% of what people get up to while practicing S&M is not sadism as I define it. It's kinky sex on the outer edges of what is considered psychologically 'normal.'

The other 25% are edge players who I believe cross the line of mental illness due to having a 'slave' who is internally enslaved, which broaches the issue of consent, and who trend toward more and more intensity.

These are my opinions only, your mileage my vary, I pulled the percentages out of my ass, so consider the source.

< Message edited by ChatteParfaitt -- 3/3/2013 5:29:34 AM >

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RE: Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/3/2013 5:54:45 AM

ResidentSadist

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^ I checked your profile. I saw no pics of your ass, therefore cannot "consider the source" properly.

Just sayin'

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RE: Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/3/2013 6:56:07 AM

LillyBoPeep

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When it is a compulsive force that interferes with your life, or a component of ANOTHER compulsive force that interferes with your life, like extreme narcissism or some such, then yes, it is a mental illness. Otherwise, no. Most sadists, BDSMingly defined, aren't the same as someone who kidnaps people and tortures them in a trailer, and then buries them in the desert. In those cases, there's no sense of consent whatsoever.

In a BDSM relationship, even in a situation of "internal enslavement," which I think is just a fancy way of saying "I trust you/believe in you a lot," the element of consent still exists. And certainly things like that can go overboard, and the trust gets broken, the belief gets destroyed - those are bad, bad situations.

But on the average, there is a world of difference between the two. I always try to state "criminal sexual sadism" to differentiate between the two.

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RE: Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/3/2013 7:17:26 AM

ChatteParfaitt

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I appreciate your response, and to a certain extent I agree with you concerning consent. *I* think in *my* relationship that, although I am somewhat internally enslaved, I have by no means given up consent. But then, isn't that what most people think about *their* relationship?

When it comes to a criminal level of sadism, I think it's near impossible for an outsider to judge with accuracy unless it's a high (and very obvious) level of criminal sadism. Which is why, although I come across some things on here that make me raise an eyebrow, for the most part I refrain from making judgement calls.

(Okay, not always, but I do try.)

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RE: Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/3/2013 7:21:28 AM

LordOdinn

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quote:

ORIGINAL: ResidentSadist

^ I checked your profile. I saw no pics of your ass, therefore cannot "consider the source" properly.

Just sayin'

As the world's expert on Chatte's ass, I can assure that it is a perfect specimen, which can be considered an unimpeachible (yet peachy) source!

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RE: Is Sadism a mental illness? - 3/3/2013 7:44:52 AM

DarkSteven

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Tricky question.

Sadism has been a part of humanity for a long time. Hell, when the Christians were thrown to the lions in the Coliseum, the stands were packed.

Dominance is the desire for control, and submission the desire to yield control. Using the infliction of pain to convey that seems natural.

As a Dom, I enjoy the fact that I have the ability to give that pain. I also enjoy it from a sadist's POV as well. But I would be terrified if I were to lose control of myself during a session. Uncontrolled sadism scares me.

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