Things You Should Know About Sado-Maso Experience

As one of the multiple facets of BDSM relationships, sadomasochism has its own features. It’s an act of deriving pleasure from inflicting or receiving pain.  Unlike dominant-submissive relationships, where one lover has control over the other, people engaged in sadomasochism may also practice intense sensations through whipping, slapping, using clamps, sharp objects and unusual gear. In this article, we’re exploring key features of sadomasochism experience.

Popular Misconceptions About Sadomasochism

As with many other unconventional aspects of life, sadomasochism (often abbreviated as S&M or SM) goes hand in hand with many misconceptions.

People, who practice Sado-Maso are mentally ill

It’s absolutely wrong since all evidences prove that the majority of enthusiasts, practicing S&M-style relationship, are mentally healthy. What differentiates them from others is that they find traditional sex practices (also known as “vanilla”) unfulfilling and not intense.

Sado-Maso is an abuse

BDSM is about mutual consent and respect. All dynamics, all dos, and don'ts are negotiated by participants before any actions take place. Whatever unusual thing you can see between two and more people, there’s a 100% chance it’s acceptable for each of them.

Sado-Maso is dangerous

Indeed, it involves using objects for causing painful sensations and torturing the partner’s body. However, participants know each other’s boundaries, always have precautions, as well as use a safe word to signal when it’s too much.

Sado-Maso participants are violent

Outside their private sex dungeon, these people are like everyone else. They just like to explore their sexuality in an unusual way. These people have nothing to do with serial killers, animal abusers, or rapists. It’s a pure misconception when media tries to draw parallels between them.

S&M Practices

S&M practices and behaviors are divided into two categories: sadism (deriving pleasure from inflicting pain or humiliation) and masochism (deriving pleasure from receiving pain or humiliation).  Let’s explore them in detail.

SM practices involve the following actions:

• Spanking: when one partner hits the buttocks of the other with hands, spanking paddles or canes.
• Slapping: when one partner hits the face of the other partner with hands.
• Flogging: when one partner strikes the body of the other partner with a whip or flogger.
• Needle Play: when the partner inserts a needle into the other partner’s skin for increased sensation.
• Hot Wax: when the partner drips hot wax from a soy wax candle onto the skin of the other partner.
• Electro Play: when the partner uses electrical devices to deliver mild electrical shocks to the skin.
• Verbal Humiliation: when the partner uses humiliating language during the practices.
• Bondage: when the partner ties up another partner using ropes, wrist and ankle cuffs, bed restraints and other devices.
• Sensory Deprivation: when the partner puts blindfolds, earplugs, or hoods on the other partner to increase anticipation.
• Collaring with a self-tightening collar: when the partner collars the other partner for the discipline and torture purposes.
• Consensual Non-Consent: when the partners act out scenarios that mimic non-consensual acts.

Also, within SM dynamic, participants always wear specific fetish clothing or gear, made of leather and latex.

Why Do People Enjoy Sadomasochism?

Let’s begin with the statistics:

• According to the survey from the Journal of Sexual Medicine, approximately 47% of men and 60% of women had BDSM-related fantasies.
• According to a survey by The Kinsey Institute, among 4000 individuals, 11% of men and 17% of women tried bondage.
• According to a U.S. study, approximately 48% of women fantasize about bondage and submissive roles.
• According to the UK survey, 12.2% of people use blindfolds and various types of bondage in their intimate life.

Reasons why people may find the practice of S&M enjoyable are very individual and vary from person to person. For some individuals, being helpless allows to escape from everyday routine full of responsibility and guilt. These activities help them release emotions and reduce stress. Other people like being under power and control because S&M practices bring them a feeling of safety and protection. 

Sadists may enjoy the dominant role, as it comes with a feeling of power and authority. They may also receive pleasure from seeing and experiencing the suffering of the masochist. Some people just seek more intense physical sensations. Their body responds to whipping or the pressure of bondage with pleasant pain, which heightens the senses and leads to powerful sexual arousal.

Finally, SM can serve as a way of exploring fantasies in a role-play manner to break from routine and spice up things in the bedroom. In addition, SM can also be considered a form of self-discovery, as people, engaged in this dynamic, explore new facets of their personalities. 

Recap

Sadomasochism in BDSM is a consensual practice that challenges norms about pleasure and pain, control and submission. It involves a variety of activities with mild, moderate and severe pain, such as spanking, slapping, bondage, wax and electricity play, humiliation, and other forms. To start exploring S&M dynamic, partners should have consent, honest communication, as well as maintain safe boundaries.

What is your attitude towards S&M activities? Do you know any celebrities who openly discuss their interest in or practice S&M? Share your opinion in comments. 

If you want to incorporate elements of S&M-style relationships into your intimate life, check out our list of the most extreme kink accessories on Elin Harness. Also, don’t miss our article about pain as a type of pleasure in BDSM play.