Explanation of sadism

Explanation of the term sadism in BDSM

Sadism is the need or wish to humiliate, force to submission and inflict physical or psychological distress upon someone. Since this term often refers to the pathological and ruthless state, the term sadomasochism is preferred in BDSM.

The term sadism comes of the French writer and count (Marquis) Donatien Alphonse Françoise de Sade (1740-1814), who wrote several books on the sadistic theme, and the term itself was instated by the Austrian psychiatrist and sexual researcher Richard von Krafft-Ebing (1840-1902) already back in 1886.