The Joy of Torment

Understanding and Managing Sadomasochism

A search for answers on the subject of sadomasochism: its origins, forms and functions, nature, and societal status. An international group of distinguished psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychoanalysts investigate the riddle of sadomasochism from heuristic, ontogenetic, nosological, psychodynamic, sociocultural, and therapeutic perspectives.

With contributions from Prachi Akhavi, Salman Akhtar, Ruth Axelrod-Praes, Lisa Crilley, Victoria Curea, Tom DeRose, Nilofer Kaul, Otto Kernberg, Arsalan Malik, Jack Novick, Kerry Kelly Novick, Philip A. Ringstrom, Louis Rothschild, Asmita Sharma, and Benny Weiss-Steider.

The psychosocial existence of human destructiveness, rage, and cruelty directed at others or the self is clearly demonstrated in events throughout the world. It was Sigmund Freud who revealed that the two tendencies, ‘sadism’ and ‘masochism’ constitute a pair – sadomasochism – and often, if not always, coexist in the same fantasy, thought, and action. Mostly, one is on the surface with the other hidden; at other times, a rapid oscillation between the two occurs.

Nonetheless many questions remain unanswered. Are sadism and masochism ‘natural’ phenomena or products of derailed and traumatic nurture? Are they always pathological? Can sadomasochistic relations ever be kind? The search for answers led to this book. Divided into three parts – conceptual, cultural, and clinical aspects – the contributors explore Freud’s changing views, contemporary incarnations, the delusion of omnipotence, misogyny and pornography, altruism and martyrdom, society and the family, childhood grieving and failure of mourning, couples psychotherapy, sexual excitement, cruelty, and the use of the internet. With a masterful blend of classic and contemporary theory and clinical practice, their nuanced and thoughtful voices provide an informative and moving work.