The Psychology of Being a Sadist: What Means When You Love To Cause Pain

Is a person who is involved in the kink scene as a sadist truly a sadist? I can hear a variety of answers being shouted at screens right now.

According to Dictionary.com, a sadist has two definitions: first, a person who receives sexual gratification from causing pain and degradation to another; second, a person who enjoys being cruel.

Now, there is Sexual Sadism Disorder, which is a sexually focused disorder, but it is not to be confused with consensual sadomasochistic play between consenting adults. The primary tenet of Sexual Sadism Disorder revolves around the complete lack of consent.

The History of Sadism

The word sadist comes from the Marquis de Sade. Many people don't know that Marquis wasn't his first name, but a title. He was born Donatien Alphonse Francois de Sade. His graphic depictions of torture and pain for sexual gratification in his books are what he is famous for, though that wasn't everything.

Why Do I Like Causing Pain?

It's easy to look at a masochist and understand why they might enjoy receiving pain. The short answer is, more endorphins builds more pleasure leads to stronger orgasms. But from the other end of the whip, what does the one who is causing the pain get out of it?

Again, we're looking at a flood of endorphins, dopamine, and other happy chemicals that flood the brain when you're bringing down the whip. The reason for these floods of happy chemicals generally come from the fact that masochist is deriving pleasure from the pain you are causing, which in turn activates the reward centers of your brain which then flood you with all those wonderful chemicals that make you feel extra good.

Feeding Your Inner Sadist

If you have sadistic urges that you want to explore with your partner, then the first thing you want to do is talk to them. Sit down with them and tell them what you're interested in and why you're interested.

You'll want to start light, even if you want to jump into the heavy stuff. If you haven't experimented with spanking yet, start there. It's the most common form of sadism when it comes to sex. If you want to try something harder, then move on to using a paddle or other implement to spank them with.