Masochism

Masochism - sexual fantasies, urges or behaviour that involves being beaten, humiliation?, bound or torture? to enhance or achieve sexual excitement.

• recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving the act (real, not simulated) of being humiliated, beaten, bound, or otherwise made to suffer
• fantasies, sexual urges or behaviour that cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning

The use of the name `Masochism' for behaviour of this type comes from the 19th century author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, whose novel `Venus in Furs' is essentially one long masochistic fantasy.

See also: Sadomasochism, Sadism, Paraphilia, Bondage, Algolagnia?