Abnormal Sexual Psychology/Sadism

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Individuals with this Paraphilia use sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviors involving infliction of pain, suffering or humiliation to enhance or achieve sexual excitement.

Diagnostic criteria for 302.84 Sexual Sadism  A. Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving acts (real, not simulated) in which the psychological or physical suffering (including humiliation) of the victim is sexually exciting to the person.

B. The person has acted on these urges with a nonconsenting person, or the sexual urges or fantasies cause marked distress or interpersonal difficulty.

Etiology

There are no primary theories for the cause of this disorder.

Treatment

Treatment may require both the application of psychotherapeutic techniques and drug therapy

Prognosis

Prognosis is poor, and most results are sub-optimal.

Affects of Sadism
This type of sexual desire can lead to serious crimes. According to (Fedoroff 638-639), 39% of general population males have fantasies of "tying up" women, and 30% "raping a women". This percentage being very close can eventually make it difficult to distinguish violent sexual crimes from consented sexual situations.

The material cited above comes from the DSM-IV-TR, ©1995-2006, American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. The full text of the DSM-IV includes associated features, diagnostic tools based on culture, age, and gender features, prevalence, course, and familial pattern of mental disorders. It also covers diagnosis, treatment, and quality of care. The above cited material is a summary of a DSM-IV or DSM-IV-TR entry and should not be used for diagnostic purposes. The full text can be purchased here.
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