1st Year Undergraduate Essay
BDSM has been defined in many ways, with the clearest definition of the term from a modern perspective specifying that “there are three different terms, there is S & M [sadism and masochism], B & D [bondage and discipline], and D & S [dominance and submission]”(Musafa,1988). Over the years, these interchangeable acronyms have formed the umbrella term of BDSM, and have been operationalised differently by different researchers. Recently, BDSM has come into mainstream consideration due to the popular ‘50 Shades of Grey’ franchise, leading some psychologists to delve deeper into the BDSM community and support the notion that BDSM is healthy and can have many benefits. However, older research condemns sadomasochistic activity; labelling them as unhealthy and psychotic. This notion is still held by much of the public, shown by the Governments ‘Digital Economy Bill’ and the debate over the influence of aggressive erotica. Thus, this essay intends to examine the research surrounding BDSM and come to a conclusion about its benefits and detriments.
Many psychologists such as Connolly (2006) would argue that BDSM is healthy and beneficial, having found a significant link between lower levels of depression in those who partake in any form of BDSM, compared to a control sample of the general population. Along with this came lower levels of anxiety, and even a lower rate of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) which can only be seen as beneficial. Although these results were collected through questionnaires the responses were completely anonymous and confidential and so socially desirable answers were minimalised. This is critical given the taboo nature of disclosing such activity. Also, research by Williams et al., (2016) has found through online surveys given to members of the BDSM community that “BDSM was associated with a sense of personal freedom (89.7% of participants), pleasure or enjoyment (98.5%), a sense of adventure (90.7%) …[and] relaxation or decreased stress (91.4%), and positive emotions (96.6%).” This recent research concurs strongly with Connolly (2006) in showing that BDSM is seen by those within the community to be healthy and to have many positives, emotionally and socially. Williams et al., (2016) also has a large sample (N=935) given how reclusive members of this community could be, and so is particularly useful at showing what BDSM practitioners think. Modern literature therefore overwhelmingly supports BDSM as a healthy past time which can have many emotional and social benefits, but most frequently highlights an openness to new activities, extraversion and an acceptance of rejection (Wismeijer & Van Assen, 2013).
On a biological level, research (Sagarin et al., 2008) has found that the stress experienced while in a BDSM scenario (measured through cortisol readings in the saliva) increased bonding between partners. As BDSM partners reported increases in relationship closeness (Sangarin et al., 2008) through self-reports after the scenes had concluded. The idea that BDSM makes couples closer seems very common throughout the BDSM community, and is beginning to be reflected in modern research. For example, Cutler (2003) highlighted the extraordinary levels of communication between BDSM couples, describing their relationship as “transparent” after conducting a series of qualitative interviews. Interestingly, Cutler goes on to note that despite the sadistic aspects of the participant’s relationships “when they perceived their partner had an issue, [the dominant became] unwilling to let go until the issue was communicated and worked through…They considered resolution of issues to be more important than the possible embarrassment or discomfort” (Cutler, 2008). This suggests that BDSM relationships have a depth that has not been shown before in mainstream media, and perhaps the level of trust involved in such activities leads to a stronger bond. Therefore, the imagery of BDSM as barbaric and purely sexual (which is emphasised in 50 Shades of Grey) may not be accurate at all, as BDSM seems to be much more multifaceted than at first it seems.
Furthermore, after conducting various qualitative studies into the diverse world of BDSM some psychologists have suggested that BDSM could be used as a sort of “sexual therapy” (Lindemann, 2011). Lindemann (2011) likens BDSM to the metaphor of a bartender as a ‘poor man’s therapist’- a cheaper form of psychotherapy for the lonely drinker to ramble to. Lindemann (2011) concluded this after interviewing 66 female dominatrices who consistently reported that many of their clients felt refreshed and less stressed after their visits. Although there are obvious issues with BDSM as a form of therapy (e.g. inciting or supporting violence to some degree) some of the dominatrices felt that they were deeply helping troubled individuals to deal with their urges that would otherwise be lashed out elsewhere. Therefore, perhaps BDSM can be seen as a form of catharsis for other problems.
On the other hand, the idea that BDSM practitioners are twisted and psychotic individuals can be traced all the way back to Freud’s (Freud, Strachey, & Zilboorg, 1975). Freud claimed that abused children use BDSM as a way of reclaiming control and even suggested that BDSM is used to overcome “traumatic dreams” by experiencing them while lucid. Not only does this not explain how many BDSM practitioners have never experienced abuse, but is also problematic in suggesting that abuse victims would in anyway want to relive their trauma. Also, given the historical context of Freud’s work and his focus on individualistic case studies that make his results almost impossible to reproduce, his theory has little weighing in the current debate. Despite the poor quality of this research, this was the historical consensus, with many claiming that people who enjoyed any form of pain were criminals (Stekel, 1929). Recent research has fought against this notion, with research from Richters et al., (2008) suggesting the opposite, that “for most participants [BDSM was] not a pathological symptom of past abuse or difficulty with ‘normal sex’”. Richters et al ., (2008) concluded this after conducting self-reports via telephone interviews with an extremely large sample (19,307 respondents aged 16-59.) Even still, despite this evidence, BDSM is seen widely as taboo and is reflected as such in the media.
From the media this has spread to law, as persecution of unconventional bedroom habits has come under fire from the British Government. The Digital Economy Bill (Department of Culture, Media, & Sport, 2016) which is currently passing through the House of Lords, intends to restrict online viewing to strictly pornographic scenes rated R18 by the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification), and requires validation via bank or credit details. Although this seems rational, the BBFC will not classify anything that displays female ejaculation, any form of spanking or caning and generally any female fluids along with several other forms of BDSM. This bill has been based on research from Donnerstein and Berkowitz (1981) which suggests that aggressive pornography increases male violence towards women, even if they have not expressed any violent tendencies before the study began. This would therefore support the notion that aggressive erotica should be banned as the Digital Economy Bill intends. However, during a follow up of their study, Donnerstein and Berkowitz (1981) found that if they showed the erotic film followed by a debriefing, participants became significantly more conscious of rape (even up to four months later) than the control group. Therefore, research that suggests watching aggressive pornography can make you aggressive in real life is somewhat inconclusive and doesn’t take into account many real-life factors. Also generally, women are portrayed as submissive in the majority of erotic works and not just BDSM works, so perhaps the problem lies with pornography entirely and not just BDSM erotica.
The newest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) still includes two disorders related to both sadism and masochism. Understandably, sadism becomes “Sexual Sadism Disorder” when enough pain is inflicted to impair “an unconsenting person” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). This level of abuse, over the 6 months specified and to multiple victims is no longer BDSM- as a key feature of responses from the BDSM community is that of enthusiastic consent (for example, Sangarin et al., 2008). Therefore, this disorder could be seen as rational and probable. However, it’s masochistic counterpart is rather unclear and obviously needs more research and definition. DSM-V states “recurrent and intense sexual arousal from the act of being humiliated, beaten, bound, or otherwise made to suffer, as manifested by fantasies, urges, or behaviours.” Ironically, when von Krafft-Ebing (1965) coined the term ‘masochism’ after studying Sacher-Masoch he explained it as “infliction of pain during the most intense emotion of lust”; therefore, the disorder the DSM describes would encapsulate most of the submissive BDSM community and seems unrealistic. Moreover, this suggests that many psychologists still believe that enjoying BDSM or having sadomasochistic tendencies is some form of psychological abnormality and insinuates this is not something we should promote or accept. This combined with the fact Kolmes, Stock, and Moser (2006) found that many within the BDSM community have received ‘biased’ care from various psychotherapists suggests that BDSM is still largely taboo, even in the psychological field.
In conclusion, there are many benefits to BDSM that have been observed by research into the modern BDSM community- with most negative results being historical. However, this does not mean this is something we should necessarily promote as a society as what happens in the bedroom is very personal; but BDSM is something we should try to conduct more research into and try to understand- especially when giving psychiatric care to an individual who partakes in BDSM activities.
References:
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
- Connolly, P. H. (2006). Psychological functioning of bondage/domination/Sado-Masochism (BDSM) practitioners. Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality, 18(1), 79–120. doi:10.1300/j056v18n01_05.
- Cutler, A.B. (2003). Partner Selection, Power Partner Selection, Power Dynamics, and Sexual Bargaining Dynamics, and Sexual Bargaining in Self-Defined BDSM Couples(Unpublished doctoral dissertation). The Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, San Francisco, California.
- Department of Culture, Media & Sport, (2016). Digital Economy Bill. Retrieved from www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/lbill/2016-2017/0080/17080.pdf.
- Donnerstein, E., & Berkowitz, L. (1981). Victim reactions in aggressive erotic films as a factor in violence against women. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 41(4), 710–724. doi:10.1037//0022-3514.41.4.710.
- Freud, S., Strachey, J., & Zilboorg, G. (1975). Beyond the pleasure principle. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
- Kolmes, K., Stock, W., & Moser, C. (2006). Investigating bias in psychotherapy with BDSM clients. Journal of Homosexuality, 50(2-3), 301–324. doi:10.1300/j082v50n02_15.
- Lindemann, D. (2011). BDSM as therapy? Sexualities,14(2), 151–172. doi:10.1177/1363460711399038.
- Musafa, F. (1988). Body Play. In A. Parfrey (Ed.), Apocalypse Culture. New York: Amok Press.
- Richters, J., De Visser, R. O., Rissel, C. E., Grulich, A. E., & Smith, A. M. A. (2008). Demographic and psychosocial features of participants in bondage and discipline, “Sadomasochism” or dominance and submission (BDSM): Data from a national survey. The Journal of Sexual Medicine,5(7), 1660–1668. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2008. 00795.x.
- Sagarin, B. J., Cutler, B., Cutler, N., Lawler-Sagarin, K. A., & Matuszewich, L. (2008). Hormonal changes and couple bonding in consensual Sadomasochistic activity. Archives of Sexual Behaviour, 38(2), 186–200. doi:10.1007/s10508-008-9374-5.
- Stekel W (1929) Sadism and Masochism: The Psychology of Hatred and Cruelty, Vol. II. (trans. Louise Brink). New York: Liveright.
- von Krafft-Ebbing, R. (1965). Psychopathia sexualis with especial reference to the antipathic sexual instinct : A medio-forensic study. New York: Special Books.
- Williams, Dj., Prior, E. E., Alvarado, T., Thomas, J. N., & Christensen, M. C. (2016). Is bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, and Sadomasochism recreational leisure? A descriptive exploratory investigation. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 13(7), 1091–1094. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.05.001.
- Wismeijer, A. A. J., & van Assen, M. A. L. M. (2013). Psychological characteristics of BDSM practitioners. The Journal of Sexual Medicine,10(8), 1943–1952. doi:10.1111/jsm.12192.