What Is So Appealing About Being Spanked, Flogged, Dominated, or Restrained? Answers from Practitioners of Sexual Masochism/Submission

Figures & data

Table 1. Nature, definition and examples of categories and subcategories (themes) related with the origins of proclivities for, and reasons to engage in, m/s activities (see the text for examples)

Research question	Category	Subcategory	Definitions
Origins	Intrinsic		Rooted in the personal history of the individual
		Inexplicable	The person cannot explain the origin but it has always been there
		Inexplicable with late realization	The person felt the proclivity was intrinsic, but only realized it or indulged in it during adulthood
		Response to inner imbalance	The activity has a soothing or therapeutic effect
	Extrinsic		Interest in m/s originates from a source external to the person
		Associated with childhood sexual abuse	Interests in m/s are thought to derive from childhood sexual abuse
		Associated with parental discipline	Interests in m/s are thought to derive from severe childhood parental discipline (e.g., corporal punishment)
		Associated with positive operant learning	Interests in m/s are thought to derive from the pairing of a neutral stimulus with an emotional and/or sexual arousal reaction (e.g., childhood plays)
		Introduced by another person	Interests in m/s developed after the practitioner was initiated by someone else (e.g., a new boyfriend)
		Associated with a chronic illness	Interests in m/s are thought to derive from a chronic and painful childhood condition
Reasons
	Power		A reason to practice m/s is to play with interpersonal power
		Giving power to someone else	The person let another one decide what to do; give order or instructions. Total power is surrender
		Being physically restrained	The person is physically restrained (e.g., bondage, mummification) and depends on another person to be freed
		Trusting	The person specified that trusting a partner is crucial
	Pain		A reason to practice m/s is to receive pain
		Receiving physical pain	Receiving moderate to severe physical pain (e.g., flogging, whipping, cutting, branding, electric choc) is specifically stressed
		Being spanked	A reason to practice m/s is to be spanked (receiving sharp slaps to the buttocks from the palm of the hand)
	Cognition		A reason to practice m/s is the modification of one’s mind (mental, psychological, or inner space)
	Reaching an altered state of consciousness		Mind alteration is specified as a reason to practice m/s, use of words commonly related with drug effects or spiritual experience (e.g., floating, flying, being high, well-being), altered awareness of outer or inner stimulations; hypnotic or trancelike feelings, enhanced or reduced sensory acuity
		Being focused and/or relaxed	Use of words commonly related with meditation, relaxation or leisure (attentional focus, slowing of train of thoughts, putting aside day-to-day worries).
		Being humiliated	A reason to practice m/s is specifically to feel humiliated, the feeling of being in a lower position compared to another person