What is the definition of a sadist
Sadist Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
sa·dist ˈsā-dist
ˈsa-
: one characterized by sadism: a person who takes pleasure in inflicting pain, punishment, or humiliation on others
a sexual sadist
He's a sadist and, where Toby is concerned, an unusually relentless one: he's in the boy's face constantly, prodding, belittling, taunting.—Terrence Rafferty
To the penal colony, the cat-o'-nine-tails was a tool more basic than the hoe. On Norfolk Island, where the camp was commanded by a succession of sadists, there were other forms of torture as well …—Clive James
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The gent responsible for that pistols-at-dawn tête-à-tête is known as the Marquis (Bill Skarsgård), a part-time French aristocrat and full-time sadist who has designs on taking control of the High Table, i.e. the secret council that rules over a vast, international underworld. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2023 Not even Ibiza can make dating a sadist fun. —Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 23 June 2022 And although this is overall a sincere endeavor, the existence of Jason Mantzoukas playing a hedonistic sadist with impeccable eyeliner and a glam rock wardrobe even invites the possibility that the filmmakers aren’t asking us to take this too seriously either.
—Lindsey Bahr, Detroit Free Press, 12 June 2021 The footage from home movies, early stage shows, recording sessions, and TV performances are revelatory, and, satisfyingly, the filmmakers make a case for Ike Turner as both one of the unsung founding fathers of rock ‘n’ roll and a control-freak sadist to his wife. —BostonGlobe.com, 24 Mar. 2021 On the other side is a sly sadist named Ketchum, played by Stephen Dorff. —Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 30 Sep. 2021 In this piercing investigation of memory, loss and love, former U.S. poet laureateTrethewey shares the story of her mother’s murder by her second husband, a violent, manipulative sadist. —Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2020 His right side becomes a sadist, obsessed with systems of torture; his left is now possessed by a sickly goodness and grace; both sides are in love with the same woman, Pamela.
—Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2023 In this piercing investigation of memory, loss and love, former U.S. poet laureate Trethewey shares the story of her mother's murder by her second husband, a violent, manipulative sadist. —Katherine A. Powers, Star Tribune, 24 Dec. 2020 See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sadist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1892, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of sadist was in 1892
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sadistsadism
sadist
sadistic
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“Sadist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sadist. Accessed 15 Apr. 2023.
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Kids Definition
sadist
noun
sa·dist
ˈsād-əst,
ˈsad-
: an individual who practices sadism
Medical Definition
sadist
noun
sa·dist ˈsād-əst ˈsad-
: an individual who practices sadism
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
Sadism Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
sa·dism ˈsā-ˌdi-zəm
ˈsa-
1
: the derivation of sexual gratification from the infliction of physical pain or humiliation on another person
compare masochism, sadomasochism
2
a
: delight in cruelty
b
: extreme cruelty
Did you know?
Masochism and sadism are both about the enjoyment of pain.
Masochism refers to the enjoyment of experiencing pain while sadism refers to the enjoyment of inflicting pain on someone else.
Interestingly, both masochism and sadism are eponymous words. English has thousands of such words, taken from the names of people both real and fictional. Masochism comes from the name of the 19th century German novelist, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch. It is unusual in that it began to be used during the lifetime of the man from whom it originated (Sacher-Masoch died in 1895, and masochism had been in printed use since 1892). Sadism comes from the name of the French writer, the Marquis de Sade (1740-1814).
The two words are not only often encountered in connection with one another, they have been combined into a single word, sadomasochism.
Synonyms
- atrociousness
- atrocity
- barbarity
- barbarousness
- brutality
- cruelness
- cruelty
- fiendishness
- heartlessness
- inhumanity
- inhumanness
- savageness
- savagery
- truculence
- viciousness
- wantonness
See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Example Sentences
a troubled youth with a streak of sadism in him
Recent Examples on the Web And so – but back to sadism.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2023 Or just a sportsman of sadism? —Tom Nolan, WSJ, 18 Feb. 2021 This type of narcissism can be seen as vindictiveness, sadism, aggression and paranoia. —Patricia Fersch, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2023 Keeping decapitated heads as war trophies, in this day and age, in a national history museum, must rank among the highest forms of racist moral decadence, sadism, and human insensitivity. —Tawanda Karombo, Quartz, 21 Dec. 2021 Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci carved sharp, deliberate satire, while White goes for cheap sentimentality — the vengeful sadism of a liberal TV mogul. —Armond White, National Review, 10 Feb.
2023 There’s also a genuine attempt to explore the traditional tropes of the apocalyptic setting, like the descent into Hobbesian sadism. —Will Bedingfield, WIRED, 12 Jan. 2023 Enjoyment of other online activities, such as chatting and debating, was unrelated to sadism. —Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 4 Mar. 2016 This often surprises people who assume that Halloween sadism is both very real and very common. —Joel Best, CNN, 31 Oct. 2022 See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sadism.
' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
International Scientific Vocabulary, from Marquis de Sade
First Known Use
1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of sadism was in 1818
See more words from the same year
Dictionary Entries Near
sadismsadiron
sadism
sadist
See More Nearby Entries
Cite this Entry
Style
MLAChicagoAPAMerriam-Webster
“Sadism.
” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sadism. Accessed 15 Apr. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
sadism
noun
sa·dism ˈsā-ˌdiz-əm
ˈsad-ˌiz-
1
: abnormal behavior in which sexual pleasure is obtained by hurting another
2
a
: pleasure taken in cruelty
b
: very great cruelty
sadistic
sə-ˈdis-tik
also sā-
adjective
Medical Definition
sadism
noun
sa·dism ˈsā-ˌdiz-əm ˈsad-ˌiz-
: a sexual perversion in which gratification is obtained by the infliction of physical or mental pain on others (as on a love object)
compare algolagnia, masochism
sadistic
sə-ˈdis-tik also sā- or sa-
adjective
sadistically
-ti-k(ə-)lē
adverb
More from Merriam-Webster on
sadismNglish: Translation of sadism for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.
com: Encyclopedia article about sadism
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
what is it. Causes and symptoms of psychological sadism
Is sadism a character trait or a mental disorder? Why is it dangerous for the sadist himself, the objects of his influence and the social environment. Kinds of sadism. How to get rid of sadism, in what ways? Is compulsory treatment applied and in what cases? We touched on all these topics in an interview with the Chief Physician of the Health Harmony Medical Center, a leading psychiatrist, psychiatrist-narcologist and psychotherapist Vladislav Sipovich.
What is sadism, its types, degree of distribution and who is more predisposed to it - men or women?
Sadism is a craving for violence that brings pleasure and / or sexual satisfaction with physical torment, torture, psychological humiliation, and even more radical actions on other people or animals. Accordingly, a sadist is a person with sadistic inclinations.
The term and concept of sadism was introduced into psychiatric science by the Austro-German psychiatrist Richard von Kraft-Ebing in 1886, and this phenomenon was named after the Marquis de Sade, who described it in detail in his works. By the way, von Ebing introduced the term masochism into scientific vocabulary, which, it would seem, is the opposite of sadism and is manifested by violence directed at oneself. In fact, these mental states are two sides of the same coin, they can flow into each other and even combine in one person in a sexual disorder called sadomasochism. I will tell about it separately.
As for the classification of sadism, there are such types of sadism as:
• Sexual , representing a form of sexual behavior in which sexual arousal, achieving orgasm and the highest pleasure are associated with causing suffering to a sexual partner, causing him physical pain, humiliating and offensive actions. In fact, sadism involves the combination of aggression with sexual desires. Sexual sadism is also known by such terms as sexual abuse, erotic tyranny, and active algolagnia.
• Sadomasochism . From a scientific point of view, it is a concept of combining sadism with masochism based on a common dynamic. And although the American official psychiatry in the DSM-5 classification nevertheless distinguishes these conditions, considering them separate diagnoses, in ICD-10 sadomasochism is diagnosed as a separate rubric, which also includes sexual sadism. The very phenomenon of sadomasochism is quite relevant and requires further serious scientific reflection and research.
It is quite common, for example, sadomasochism is known to occur in 5% of men and 2% of women, i.e. in fact, one in 20 men is a sadist.
• Psychological sadism , otherwise referred to as moral or psi-sadism. It is a kind of sadism, also associated with actions that cause suffering to the victim, but of a psychological and moral nature. It can be humiliation, insults, threats, abuse of dignity, etc. In fact, it gives a sense of power over the other person, whom the sadist can make feel humiliated and insulted. Some extreme manifestations of psy-sadism can drive the victim to suicide, and especially sophisticated manipulative tormentors can even provoke conflicts and proxy killings of their chosen victim. Remember at least the work of Agatha Christie "The Last Case of Poirot", which describes the psi-killer Norton, who could not stand the sight of blood, but nevertheless committed his ideal murders, skillfully manipulating the feelings of others and arousing in them a desire to deal with imaginary enemies.
At the same time, he himself quietly enjoyed his “talent” and power over people.
• Sadistic personality disorder is characterized by a constant aggressive desire to humiliate another person, which actually determines the thinking and behavior of the sadist. Like masochistic, sadistic personality disorder, although it was proposed by psychiatrists for inclusion in the International Classification of Diseases, it never got into it as an official diagnosis. The same thing happened with the American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5. It remains to be hoped that reaching a scientific consensus on this issue is yet to come. Usually, the first signs of this disorder appear in the older adolescence in the form of physical abuse in order to dominate others, addiction to the topics of violence and humiliation, abuse of dependent people, enjoying the torture of animals, crying babies, resentment at home, etc. Many parents attribute all of these abuses to the difficulties of adolescence and think that their child will outgrow this period.
But in reality, you need to ring all the bells, go for a consultation with a specialist and seriously deal with this issue, otherwise, in a few years you will get an inveterate sadist, which will inevitably affect the fate of the whole family.
• Sadism associated with organic brain damage (GM). Studies of patients with sadistic tendencies showed that 40% of sadists had a pathology of the temporal lobe of the GM.
In addition, sadism can be a consequence and a symptom of mental illness.
What is the nature and causes of sexual and other forms of sadism?
As I have already said, sexual sadism is one of the types of paraphilia, which is characterized by an increase in sexual pleasure while causing suffering to a partner. Manifested by coercion to have sex, abuse, torture, torture and beatings against the backdrop of verbal abuse. The more the partner resists and suffers, the stronger the pleasure received by the sadist. Often he loses control of himself and can cause serious injury to his partner and even kill him.
Factors that predispose to the development of a tendency to sadism may include the following personality characteristics:
• Short temper and irritability.
• Self-doubt, low self-esteem and poor communication skills.
• A history of psychotrauma associated with experiences of violence and humiliation.
The most common clinically confirmed causes of sadism are:
• Mental disorders, namely emotional and behavioral deviations in certain types of psychopathy, for example, epileptoid, unstable, etc.
• Genetic burden of similar disorders.
• Biological factors, such as organic lesions of the temporal lobe of the GM.
• Too harsh and even cruel methods of education - pain punishment, humiliation of the child, the inability to beg for forgiveness. Many parents, relying on the inevitability of punishment as the best educational method, can often overdo it in their desire to literally “train” their child into unconditional obedience. In the future, the child transfers this pattern to his environment, trying to act tyrannically and cruelly suppressing any self-will and disobedience.
Such a little tyrant can enter adulthood already with obvious sadistic inclinations.
• Suppression of aggression accumulated as a result of sexual failures, the development of various complexes, dissatisfaction with desires and motives, internal tension will sooner or later come down with bullying, humiliation and torment on a more mentally and physically weak person, sensitive to sadistic tricks. This applies equally to both sexual and psychological sadism.
As for the nature of sadism, it is inherent in a person as a way of survival. Being an omnivore, a person nevertheless experiences a biological need for the intake of animal protein as a source of essential amino acids. It can be obtained only by a predatory method of nutrition, i.e. hunting animals. Primitive tribes constantly and fiercely fought for the habitats of the animals that fed them. The victors destroyed the men of the hostile tribe, and took the women for themselves. There was practically no place for pity here - violence became the basis not only for survival, but also for replenishing the genetic fund.
By the way, the hunting instinct is developed even in modern man, although he does not have the need to kill - everything you need can be bought at the nearest supermarket. But if earlier a person hunted for food, now the craving for murder has received the “noble” name of sport hunting. The sight of the convulsing victim gives the entertaining "hunter" a real pleasure, and not only from a successful and well-aimed shot. Actually, this is how the desire for violence is satisfied. Perhaps the only benefit from such a “sport” is the psychological exhaust of hidden and accumulated aggression, directed not at humans, but at animals.
Supporters of the cognitive-behavioral concept believe that the formation of sadistic inclinations is due to the fact that cruelty in the treatment of people, which led to the achievement of a positive result, success, recognition, praise, etc., is fixed and becomes a stable mental dominant. Violence, as a way to achieve one's goal, begins to bring pleasure and the strongest pleasure.
Followers of psychoanalysis believe that sadism develops as a result of a conflict between desires and possibilities, which leads to constant tension, fear and anxiety.
Tension is relieved and relief sets in if a person, identifying himself with the aggressor, begins to behave cruelly, commit violent acts, torture and mock the victim, including his sexual partner. Such behavior allows the sadist to satisfy his sexual desire, to get the highest pleasure and the sweet feeling of power over another person. Own phobias and anxiety disappear or decrease with the complete humiliation and submission of a partner.
How to recognize a sexual sadist?
The first symptoms of sadism become apparent at puberty during the formation of secondary sexual characteristics. These are, first of all, such manifestations as:
• Aggressiveness and cruelty.
• Readiness to jump into a fight at any opportunity, but only if the victim is clearly weaker.
• Cynical, openly disrespectful attitude towards persons of the opposite sex.
• Primitive sexual behavior, demonstrating the absence of a positive emotional attitude towards the chosen sexually significant object - sympathy, courtship, dating, etc. The emerging sadist will never "fly in the clouds" from love. On the contrary, he will try to humiliate, force sexual intercourse with the help of physical force and beatings. Moreover, the stronger the resistance, the more active the violence.
In the future, an already formed sexual sadist is not able to reach the peak of sexual satisfaction without cruel treatment of a partner, inflicting moral and physical pain on him. Moreover, the set of sophisticated painful tortures is extremely diverse. It may include such torture as:
• Beatings with a whip (“lashing”), a whip, a belt, or even a bat.
• Injections, especially in sensitive areas.
• Burns by cigarette or brand.
• Cuts and large painful scratches.
• Restriction of freedom of movement, etc.
In a severe course of sadism, such executions can take on a form that is dangerous to the health and life of a partner.
Moreover, the highest degree of pleasure is achieved by the sadist not from the sexual contact itself, but from the satisfaction of his sadistic aspirations. Trying to reach the climax of his sensations, a sadist in ecstasy can lose control over his actions and bring his partner to death.
Another important point - sexual sadism can manifest itself not only in relation to persons of the opposite sex, but also in children in combination with pedophilia, the elderly in combination with gerontophilia, and even in animals with zoosadism.
Based on the foregoing, it can be argued that without timely diagnosis and treatment, sexual sadism can lead to murders, severe injuries and mental disorders of the victim of violence. Society fears and eschews sadists, they are often forced to be recluses, hiding from law enforcement officers. They are not always able to find a masochist partner, most often the situation is complicated by the fact that in a married couple the partner is not always inclined to satisfy the needs of a sadist.
A sadistic man in the family is trying to completely subjugate a woman to his influence, rebuild her psyche, achieve the unconditional fulfillment of all his desires and he absolutely does not give a damn about her needs. In fact, the sadist is not able to perceive his victim as a person; for him, she is only an object for self-affirmation. The desire to dominate her knows no limits, and disobedience can lead to rather sad consequences. In addition, ill-treatment can also be transferred to children, in this case educational moments serve as an excuse, and the punishment is greatly exaggerated compared to the offense. Any minor disobedience or reckless act can cause "righteous anger" and a severe beating.
An inveterate sadist, even fully aware of his inclinations, rarely turns to psychiatrists, psychotherapists and sexologists for help. But in severe forms of sadism, antisocial and dangerous to others, by court order, compulsory treatment and imprisonment are possible. Especially if sadism is combined with drug addiction, alcoholism and aggressive behavior.
By the way, the share of sadists in the "society" of serial killers and sexual maniacs accounts for 10%.
The diagnosis of sadism is made when the patient voluntarily seeks help or as a result of a forensic medical examination. Diagnosis is carried out by a psychiatrist, psychotherapist or sexologist. The diagnosis is based on the following criteria:
• Necessity and persistent need for sadistic activities for orgasm and sexual gratification.
Is it possible to get rid of sexual sadism?
It is rather difficult to answer this question in the affirmative. Therapy of sexual sadism is complex and is carried out in the following areas:
• Identification and overcoming of the internal psychological conflict that caused the connection of aggression with sexual arousal. This is the scope of such methods of psychotherapy as psychoanalysis, cognitive behavioral therapy. Unfortunately, they are effective only in the early stages of the development of sadism and with the voluntary treatment of a patient who has a strong motivation for a cure.
• Medical treatment of sadistic manifestations that can lead to serious consequences for others, often with the help of drugs that reduce sexual desire, block aggression, instability of behavior and outbursts of anger. To do this, prescribe psychotropic drugs, antidepressants, sedatives and hormonal drugs that reduce testosterone production.
Only such a comprehensive and purely individual approach can lead to a positive result in the absence of concomitant mental disorders.
As for the prevention of sadism, it should be started from childhood. Love and respect, a calm and favorable psychological environment in the family will not allow the child to develop self-doubt and anxiety. It is important not to suppress aggression in a child, but to encourage its open manifestation, directing it in a different direction - not on people, but on competitive sports. The desire to dominate and command can be realized in a more acceptable form - for example, martial arts under the guidance of an experienced coach who adheres to the basic principles not to apply the acquired knowledge and skills for aggression and attack.
It will be interesting for the child to prove himself in intellectual, war games and even in the most ordinary things - organizing house cleaning, caring for the local area, buying important things, planning the family budget. Do not suppress the initiative in the child, take into account his opinion, recognize the rationality of his proposals - in this way you will satisfy his desire for self-affirmation and will not allow an inferiority complex to form.
What are the characteristics of sadomachism?
The term "sado-masochism" was proposed in 1913 by a follower of Freud, a psychoanalyst from Austria, Isidor Zadger. The latter developed and gave a name to Freud's teaching about the desire to inflict pain on others or experience pain yourself, as a way of sexual satisfaction based on relations of dominance or submission. As I have already said, in psychoanalysis, sadism and masochism are considered as a single mental phenomenon, and masochism is considered autosadism, i.
e. self-directed sadism.
It should be said that there is still no consensus on the classification of sadomasochism. In the ICD-10, such a diagnosis was introduced, but already during the eleventh revision in 2018, it disappeared again and now, starting from 2022, the diagnosis of sadomasochism is not officially recognized in the ICD-11.
As for the phenomenon itself, regardless of recognition or non-recognition in the ICD, it takes place, and it is considered the most common deviation of sexual behavior and this must be taken into account when conducting therapy. The foundations of sadomasochism are laid in early childhood, when the sadomasochistic inclinations of one or both parents are perceived by the child as a stereotype of behavior. By the way, many experts consider sadomasochism a phenomenon inherent in any person, the whole point is its severity and influence on social adaptation and the formation of family relationships. If in a couple the sadism of one partner satisfies the masochistic needs of the other and is under control, then this even helps to establish closer psychological contact.
Sadism in love ecstasy merges with its antipode and turns into sadomasochism. In this case, partners can change roles.
But quite often, sadomasochism takes on such a form that it becomes dominant in all areas of relationships and has negative consequences not only for partners, but also for society. The sophistication of sadomasochists sometimes resemble torture in the dungeons of the Gestapo. The destructive manifestations of sadomasochism in this case are manifested by antisocial behavior, violent sexual acts up to the death of the victim, child abuse, torture, torture and killing of animals.
In conclusion, I want to say that the modern ideas of some researchers of cruelty, sadism, hatred, anger and egocentrism received their hypothetical justification in the form of the concept of the dark core of the personality psyche, the so-called D-factor. When the "dark" core in the human psyche grows to an incredible size, it maximizes all negative and evil aspirations, including sadism.
By the way, almost all elements of the black triad are present in sadism:
• Narcissism as extreme egocentrism.
• Machiavellianism, as the belief that the end justifies the means.
• Psychopathy - complete lack of empathy (sympathy and compassion).
The D-factor is defined as the tendency to seek one's own benefit at any cost, ignoring the needs of others and not paying attention to moral concepts and social attitudes. The dominant tendency is to put one's own interests, desires and needs higher than those of other people. At the same time, the very process of creating inconvenience, humiliation and violence for them begins to bring pleasure.
That is why sadism, as a special type of human-to-human connection based on domination, requires early diagnosis and timely treatment in order to prevent its development into a socially dangerous and destructive form for the individual. If you find signs of sadism or masochism in yourself or your loved ones, contact a specialist immediately, otherwise the consequences can be the most unpredictable and extremely undesirable.
who is this, the causes of aggression and how to resist?
It is believed that aggressive behavior is the result of improper upbringing. But it's not. Scientists from Sweden have found that people who are prone to violence have a special “devil gene”. It is manifested by demonic features: aggression, cruelty, sadism. Moreover, sadistic features are manifested even in those who seem absolutely normal. How does a sadist manifest himself in everyday life? How is it different from an aggressor? Is it possible to learn to manage one's own and other people's aggression? It turns out you can. How to do this, we tell in the article.
What is a sadist?
A sadist is a violent person who takes pleasure in seeing others suffer. The sadist enjoys not so much from inflicting physical pain as from moral violence, verbal aggression, caused mental suffering and humiliation of others. He is not able to control himself , this attraction manifests itself sooner or later.
The sadist needs complete dominance, absolute power - only then is the complete satisfaction of sadistic inclinations possible.
Initially, sexual perverts were called sadists, who received sexual satisfaction at the sight of their partner's physical suffering. The term "sadism" is also used in criminal proceedings as an aggravating circumstance of a crime. In criminal cases, we are talking about clinical cases when a sadist crosses the border of the law or social norms. But extended research has shown that it is possible to be a sadist and still remain within the psychiatric norm.
In everyday usage, the so-called " household sadist "- one who finds the victim is obviously weaker than himself and tortures her, feeling his impunity. And more often there are sadists who do not show open aggression:
- The first call themselves " truth-tellers " and sincerely believe that they can only tell the truth. You can easily hear a loud remark from them: “ Marry anyone.
Otherwise, you will remain in the old maids "or" You are such a loser, probably your wife will soon leave you for another ". - The second act, as they say, "on the sly" of care and affection. If you complain about health problems, they will immediately recall a couple of fatal cases. Tell about the planned wedding, hear other people's stories about divorce. And all this with a gentle smile and care in his eyes.
- Others are simply silent, sick or depressed. This is a tactic of passive sadism, in which people voluntarily choose the role of a victim, provoking the partner's aggression. For example, a wife fell out of love with her husband, but instead of a conflict, she simply remains silent. Or a husband cheats on his wife, but instead of a divorce, he harasses her with endless nit-picking.
Generally speaking, a sadist looks more like an ardent lover than an aggressor. The aggressor seeks to destroy the object in order to protect himself from possible troubles.
The sadist, on the contrary, seeks to completely control the object, dominate its thoughts, behavior and literally merge with it.
Pass a character test
The history of the concept.
The term “sadism” arose at the end of the 18th century, but in Russian there are many words similar in meaning: torture, mockery, torture.
Sadist - derived from the name of the writer-philosopher Marquis de Sade, known for his pornographic works with scenes of cruelty and violence. In sexopathology, a syndrome was named after him, which refers to sexual perversions. In reference books on psychopathology, he has become a prime example of a person with sadomasochistic traits. But there is no separate diagnosis of "sadism" in official medical reference books.
Although the works of the Marquis de Sade were severely censored for almost a hundred years, at the end of the 18th century sadism was not just an erotic practice, but a "mass cultural phenomenon." A new wave of popularity of the ideas of "sexual freedom" came in the 20-30s of the XX century.
The author himself became "a symbol of protest against sanctimonious morality" and was fully rehabilitated.
Numerous scientific experiments have proven that sadistic tendencies are inherent in many , very many people. And the only thing that stops them is the fear of responsibility or punishment for their actions. Moreover, it turned out that the place of residence, gender, nationality do not matter. The percentage of sadists is about the same everywhere.
Causes of child aggression.
Any physician will confirm that full-fledged sadists are not born. Sadism, which manifests itself in childhood, can become a permanent or temporary phenomenon. In addition to mental illness, there are several reasons for pathology:
- Cruelty on the part of parents.
- Ignoring the child's sadistic tendencies.
- Psychological trauma.
- Suppression of aggression.
- Unfortunate sexual experience in adolescence.
- Uncontrolled viewing of sadistic pornography.
These reasons can lead to sadistic tendencies, but this fact has not been scientifically proven. Concerns about computer games with scenes of violence turned out to be groundless. Opponents of virtual reality argue that the violence in the game provokes aggression in real life. But the statistics say otherwise: the Japanese spend the most in the world on the purchase of games, but at the same time, the percentage of violent crimes in Japan is one of the lowest.
So teachers urge parents not to panic at the sight of children's aggression . It is not always associated with poor upbringing, it is just a way to relieve stress, express emotions. But if after three years the child has not learned to cope with bouts of anger, does not show compassion or openly tortures animals - this is the first signal for parents. In this case, it is better to contact a child psychologist.
How to deal with your anger?
Anger is a wonderful feeling with a lot of energy.
But if anger develops into uncontrolled outbursts of aggression, this is already beginning to interfere. When stress and irritation accumulate to a critical level, an emotional outburst occurs - this is comparable to a boiling kettle with the lid blown off. Spilling out our negativity, we jeopardize relationships, careers, friendships, family happiness. In addition, the unspent energy of anger hits the internal organs with force. Most negatively, this affects the heart, blood vessels and liver.
Therefore, you need to understand what provokes aggression, recognize the cause and fight it. For those who want to learn how to control their anger, 5 tips will come in handy:
- To quickly release energy, you can walk quickly, run, shout, tear a couple of sheets of paper. This will not solve the problems, but it will help protect the internal organs from an adrenaline attack.
- Anger is accompanied by muscle spasm. To remove it, it is enough to straighten or lower the shoulders, relax the contracted muscles of the jaw, forehead, fingers, and neck.
Additionally, you can take a few slow breaths. - To remove the peak intensity of emotions, you can describe your condition without conclusions and assessments. For example, the text might be: “ I feel pain that I can no longer endure. I feel like a powerless nothing. I'm furious. I literally choke with anger .” As a result of internal work, the brain clears up, the ability to think soberly returns.
- Change minus to plus. Anger with its energy is given by nature for a reason. Rage adds physical strength that can be used for its intended purpose. For example, redo the accumulated household chores, throw away unnecessary things, move furniture. In addition, a bad mood helps to assess problems from a different angle. In a bad mood, we are more attentive, so we can better see the imperceptible, but important details.
- Consult a psychotherapist. Unfortunately, it is more customary for us to discuss problems with the first person we meet, and not with a specialist.
But in vain. Individual or group therapy will help identify the causes of anger, find out your reactions. And also - to play scenes from life in a safe environment under the supervision of a specialist.
Take a mental test
How to resist a domestic aggressor?
Of course, classic sadists are rare. More often come across psychological aggressors who torment victims with actions and words. As a rule, they choose activities related to communication and power. They may be teachers, doctors, policemen, politicians, or deploy in another area to achieve power.
But it is impossible to live in society and be completely free from it. We often meet people who take out their anger on others. In order not to feel like a “squeezed lemon” after communicating with the aggressor, you need to be able to correctly respond to the manifestation of anger or hostility.
How to identify a sadist?
An aggressor can be recognized by excessive severity, excessive pickiness, bad mood and a tendency to regular punishment.
- First you need to study yourself . A person with the psychology of a victim subconsciously attracts the aggressor. In addition, the victim sets blocks for himself and does not know how to defend himself. Aggression is the problem of the aggressor. If you understand this fact, you can get rid of the role of the victim. But there are other cases when people themselves accumulate aggression, but are afraid to express it. Such a person unconsciously provokes a quarrel in order to throw off his own negativity through it.
- Learn how to properly respond to other people's attacks . The reaction of the body to a cry or sarcasm can be unpredictable: the heart beats faster, the ears seem to be stuffed with cotton wool, and the voice breaks treacherously. In such a state, it is impossible to give a worthy rebuff. First you need to monitor your reaction and prepare in advance for the next quarrel: prepare a couple of standard phrases, remember convincing arguments, and win allies over to your side.
- Learn to respond correctly to aggression . You should not accept the rules of the game on a foreign field: be rude, call names, shout. It is better to learn how to manage the situation. You can ask your interlocutor a simple question and thereby change the subject. Or redirect the aggressor to another platform for communication - offer to describe the claims in an email. But in any case, you should not speak in a quiet or trembling voice - this will again give out the position of the victim.
- Guard your borders tactfully . Even close relatives cannot unceremoniously violate each other's boundaries. This does not mean that you need to isolate yourself from parents-spouses-children. To practice non-violence, it is enough to draw a mental line between yourself and the offender. And then, with the help of harmless words, tactfully convey your opinion.
- Do not wait for the situation to resolve itself .
