Some people's life stories give the impression that they are deliberately looking for trouble and suffering. Such people are often jokingly or seriously called masochists, but is this term correct?
Masochism and sex
The concept of masochism was introduced by the German psychiatrist Kraft-Ebing and initially concerned only the sphere of sexual relations. Masochism was understood as a mental disorder, as a result of which an individual needs to experience painful sensations in order to receive sexual pleasure. Masochism is closely related to sadism, therefore, in psychiatry, they are combined into the general term "sadomasochism". The word masochism itself comes from the name of the writer Sacher-Masoch, who often described this form of sexual relations in his books.
From the point of view of modern psychiatry, the emergence of sexual arousal and receiving pleasure is associated not so much with the very fact of feeling physical pain, but with the emotional component: a sense of submission, humiliation, and so on. In principle, up to a certain point, sadomasochism is not considered a deviation, and many couples use its elements in bed games, but if pain and humiliation become the only way to have pleasure, it is worth contacting a specialist.
Psychologist's view
In psychology, masochists are people who consciously or subconsciously create situations in which they can feel humiliated. This is not about sexual satisfaction, but about various complexes that force individuals to provoke manifestations of aggression against themselves. Typically, the reason for this behavior lies in childhood trauma associated with disapproval or abuse of parents and peers. Psychological masochism is one of the reasons for victim behavior, that is, such a course of action in which a potential aggressor is most likely to turn into a real one.
Experiencing the pleasure of aggression, punishment and humiliation, people, unfortunately, rarely dare to comprehend and change their behavior. If, in the case of sexual sensations, the matter, most often, does not go beyond the relationship in a couple, then a psychological masochist is capable of destroying his whole life. In order to satisfy their complexes, a person can deliberately make mistakes at work, choose the most inappropriate partners, provoke those close to him to aggression. All this, naturally, does not have the best effect on the quality of life. If you notice symptoms of masochistic behavior in yourself or someone you know, it may make sense to consult a psychologist.