Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 3: Analysis of the Sexual Impulse; Love and Pain; The Sexual Impulse in WomenEllis, Havelock
Science
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 3: Analysis of the Sexual Impulse; Love and Pain; The Sexual Impulse in Women
Ellis, Havelock
Sex; Sex (Psychology)
This case is interesting as an uncomplicated example of almost
purely ideal sadism. It is interesting to note the feelings of
the sadist subject toward her imaginary lover's feelings. It is
probably significant that, while his pleasure is regarded as
essential, his pain is regarded as even more essential, and the
resulting apparent confusion may well be of the very essence of
the whole phenomenon. The pleasure of the imaginary lover must be
secured or the manifestation passes out of the sexual sphere; but
his pleasure must, at all costs, be conciliated with his pain,
for in the sadist's eyes the victim's pain has become a vicarious
form of sexual emotion. That, at the same time, the sadist
desires to give pleasure rather than pain finds confirmation in
the fact that he often insists on pleasure being feigned even
though it is not felt. Some years ago a rich Jewish merchant
became notorious for torturing girls with whom he had
intercourse; his performances acquired for him the title of
"_l'homme qui pique_," and led to his prosecution. It was his
custom to spend some hours in sticking pins into various parts of
the girl's body, but it was essential that she should wear a
smiling face throughout the proceedings. (Hamon, _La France
Sociale et Politique_, 1891, p. 445 et seq.)
We have thus to recognize that sadism by no means involves any love of
inflicting pain outside the sphere of sexual emotion, and is even
compatible with a high degree of general tender-heartedness. We have also
to recognize that even within the sexual sphere the sadist by no means
wishes to exclude the victim's pleasure, and may even regard that pleasure
as essential to his own satisfaction. We have, further, to recognize that,
in view of the close connection between sadism and masochism, it is highly
probable that in some cases the sadist is really a disguised masochist and
enjoys his victim's pain because he identifies himself with that pain.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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