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
(cautionary statement)
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 fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Reprinted with permission from the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth Edition. Copyright 1994 American
Psychiatric Association
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Also: sadist, sadomasochism, masochism
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