19,542
Views
8
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Research Articles

Curative kink: survivors of early abuse transform trauma through BDSM

ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon, , &
Pages 353-383 | Received 18 Feb 2021, Accepted 22 May 2021, Published online: 15 Jun 2021

References

  • Ambler, J. K., Lee, E. M., Klement, K. R., Loewald, T., Comber, E. M., Hanson, S. A., Cutler, B., Cutler, N., & Sagarin, B. J. (2017). Consensual BDSM facilitates role-specific altered states of consciousness: A preliminary study. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 4(1), 75–91. https://doi.org/10.1037/cns0000097
  • Arias, B. J., & Johnson, C. V. (2013). Voices of healing and recovery from childhood sexual abuse. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 22(7), 822–841. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2013.830669
  • Baker, A. C. (2018). Sacred kink: Finding psychological meaning at the intersection of BDSM and spiritual experience. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 33(4), 440–453. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681994.2016.1205185
  • Barker, M., Gupta, C., & Iantaffi, A. (2007). The power of play: The potentials and pitfalls in healing narratives of BDSM. In D. Langdridge & M. Barker (Eds.), Safe, sane and consensual: Contemporary perspectives on sadomasochism (pp. 197–216). Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Bauer, R. (2008). Transgressive and transformative gendered sexual practices and White privileges: The case of the dyke/trans BDSM communities. Women’s Studies Quarterly, 36(3/4), 233–253.
  • Bauer, R. (2018). Bois and grrrls meet their daddies and mommies on gender playgrounds: Gendered age play in the les-bi-trans-queer BDSM communities. Sexualities, 21(1–2), 139–155. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363460716676987
  • Bowlby, J. (1983). Attachment (2nd ed.). Basic Books.
  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2012). Thematic analysis. In APA handbook of research methods in psychology, Vol. 2: Research designs: Quantitative, qualitative, neuropsychological, and biological (pp. 57–71). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/13620-004
  • Brewin, C. R., Andrews, B., & Valentine, J. D. (2000). Meta-analysis of risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder in trauma-exposed adults. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(5), 748–766. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.68.5.748
  • Briere, J. (2002). Treating adult survivors of severe childhood abuse and neglect: Further development of an integrative model. In J. E. B. Myers, L. Berliner, J. Briere, C. T. Hendrix, T. Reid, & C. Jenny (Eds.), The APSAC handbook on child maltreatment (2nd ed., pp. 175–203). Sage Publications.
  • Brown, A., Barker, E. D., & Rahman, Q. (2020). A systematic scoping review of the prevalence, etiological, psychological, and interpersonal factors associated with BDSM. Journal of Sex Research, 57(6), 781–811. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2019.1665619
  • Brown, R. D., & Weigel, D. J. (2018). Exploring a contextual model of sexual self-disclosure and sexual satisfaction. Journal of Sex Research, 55(2), 202–213. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2017.1295299
  • Cascalheira, C. J. (2020). Curative kink. Open Science Framework. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/AY685
  • Cascalheira, C. J., Thomson, A., & Wignall, L. (2021). A certain evolution’: A phenomenological study of 24/7 BDSM and negotiating consent. Psychology & Sexuality, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2021.1901771
  • Cloitre, M., Cohen, L. R., & Koenen, K. C. (2006). Treating survivors of childhood abuse: Psychotherapy for the interrupted life. The Guilford Press.
  • Coppens, V., Ten Brink, S., Huys, W., Fransen, E., & Morrens, M. (2020). A survey on BDSM-related activities: BDSM experience correlates with age of first exposure, interest profile, and role identity. Journal of Sex Research, 57(1), 129–136. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2018.1558437
  • Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
  • Croft, J. (2017, July 5). What we know about the FetLife fetish site. https://www.cnn.com/2017/07/04/us/fetlife-illinois-kidnapping-suspect/index.html
  • Crowell, C., Mosley, D. V., & Stevens-Watkins, D. (2017). Studying sex: A content analysis of sexuality research in counseling psychology. The Counseling Psychologist, 45(4), 528–546. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000017713756
  • Dancer, P. L., Kleinplatz, P. J., & Moser, C. (2006). 24/7 SM slavery. Journal of Homosexuality, 50(2–3), 81–101. https://doi.org/10.1300/J082v50n02_05
  • Draucker, C. B., Martsolf, D. S., Roller, C., Knapik, G., Ross, R., & Stidham, A. W. (2011). Healing from childhood sexual abuse: A theoretical model. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 20(4), 435–466. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2011.588188
  • Easton, D. (2007). Shadowplay: S/M journeys to our selves. In D. Langdridge & M. Barker (Eds.), Safe, sane and consensual: Contemporary perspectives on sadomasochism (pp. 223–234). Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Gelso, C. J., Williams, E. N., & Fretz, B. R. (2014). Counseling psychology (3rd ed.). American Psychological Association.
  • Guest, G., Bunce, A., & Johnson, L. (2006). How many interviews are enough?: An experiment with data saturation and variability. Field Methods, 18(1), 59–82. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822X05279903
  • Halpern, S. C., Schuch, F. B., Scherer, J. N., Sordi, A. O., Pachado, M., Dalbosco, C., Fara, L., Pechansky, F., Kessler, F., & Von Diemen, L. (2018). Child maltreatment and illicit substance abuse: A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Child Abuse Review, 27(5), 344–360. https://doi.org/10.1002/car.2534
  • Hammers, C. (2014). Corporeality, sadomasochism and sexual trauma. Body & Society, 20(2), 68–90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357034X13477159
  • Hammers, C. (2019). Reworking trauma through BDSM. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 44(2), 491–514. https://doi.org/10.1086/699370
  • Hardt, J., & Rutter, M. (2004). Validity of adult retrospective reports of adverse childhood experiences: Review of the evidence. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 45(2), 260–273. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.00218.x
  • Harrington, L. (2016). Sacred kink: The eightfold paths of BDSM and beyond (2nd ed.). Mystic Productions Press, LLC.
  • Hennink, M. M., Kaiser, B. N., & Marconi, V. C. (2017). Code saturation versus meaning saturation: How many interviews are enough?Qualitative Health Research, 27(4), 591–608. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732316665344
  • Herman, J. L. (1992). Trauma and recovery (pp. xi, 276). Basic Books.
  • Hill, C. E., Knox, S., Thompson, B. J., Williams, E. N., Hess, S. A., & Ladany, N. (2005). Consensual qualitative research: An update. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(2), 196–205. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.52.2.196
  • Hillier, K. (2019). The impact of childhood trauma and personality on kinkiness in adulthood (6579) [Doctoral dissertation]. Walden University.
  • Hillis, S., Mercy, J., Amobi, A., & Kress, H. (2016). Global prevalence of past-year violence against children: A systematic review and minimum estimates. Pediatrics, 137(3), e20154079. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2015-4079
  • Hitter, T. L., Adams, E. M., & Cahill, E. J. (2017). Positive sexual self-schemas of women survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The Counseling Psychologist, 45(2), 266–293. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000017697194
  • Hoff, G., & Sprott, R. A. (2009). Therapy experiences of clients with BDSM sexualities: Listening to a stigmatized sexuality. Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality, 12.
  • Hopkins, T. A., Brawner, C. A., Meyer, M., Zawilinski, L., Carnes, P. J., & Green, B. A. (2016). MMPI-2 correlates of sadomasochism in a sexual addiction sample: Contrasting and [sic] men and women. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 23(1), 114–140. https://doi.org/10.1080/10720162.2015.1095137
  • Hughes, S. D., & Hammack, P. L. (2020). Narratives of the origins of kinky sexual desire held by users of a kink-oriented social networking website. The Journal of Sex Research, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2020.1840495
  • Kaldera, R., & Tashlin, D. (2013). Mastering mind: Dominants with mental illness or neurological dysfunction. Alfred Press.
  • Kelsey, K., Stiles, B. L., Spiller, L., & Diekhoff, G. M. (2013). Assessment of therapists’ attitudes towards BDSM. Psychology and Sexuality, 4(3), 255–267. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2012.655255
  • Kink Clinical Practice Guidelines Project. (2019). Clinical practice guidelines for working with people with kink interests. https://www.kinkguidelines.com
  • Kolmes, K., Stock, W., & Moser, C. (2006). Investigating bias in psychotherapy with BDSM clients. Journal of Homosexuality, 50(2–3), 301–324. https://doi.org/10.1300/J082v50n02_15
  • Kuzmanovic, D. (2018). Queer race play: Kinky sex and the trauma of racism. In Disgust and desire (pp. 69–88). Brill.
  • Labrecque, F., Potz, A., Larouche, É., & Joyal, C. C. (2021). What is so appealing about being spanked, flogged, dominated, or restrained? Answers from practitioners of sexual masochism/submission. Journal of Sex Research, 58(4), 409–415. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2020.1767025
  • Langdridge, D., & Barker, M. (2007). Safe, sane and consensual: Contemporary perspectives on sadomasochism. Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Lawrence, A. A., & Love-Crowell, J. (2008). Psychotherapists’ experience with clients who engage in consensual sadomasochism: a qualitative study. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 34(1), 67–85. https://doi.org/10.1080/00926230701620936
  • Levand, M. A., Chando, S. C., Wolfe, M., Pillai-Friedman, S., & Love, E. (2019). The light in the shadows: Therapeutic explorations of fantasy and fear. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 34(4), 473–495. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681994.2018.1486029
  • Lindemann, D. (2011). BDSM as therapy?Sexualities, 14(2), 151–172. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363460711399038
  • MacMillan, H. L., Fleming, J. E., Streiner, D. L., Lin, E., Boyle, M. H., Jamieson, E., Duku, E. K., Walsh, C. A., Wong, M. Y.-Y., & Beardslee, W. R. (2001). Childhood abuse and lifetime psychopathology in a community sample. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 158(11), 1878–1883. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.158.11.1878
  • MacQueen, K. M., McLellan, E., Kay, K., & Milstein, B. (1998). Codebook development for team-based qualitative analysis. Cultural Anthropology Methods, 10(2), 31–36.
  • Min, M., Farkas, K., Minnes, S., & Singer, L. T. (2007). Impact of childhood abuse and neglect on substance abuse and psychological distress in adulthood. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 20(5), 833–844. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20250
  • Morrow, S. L. (2005). Quality and trustworthiness in qualitative research in counseling psychology. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(2), 250–260. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.52.2.250
  • National Coalition for Sexual Freedom. (2013). NCSF Consent Counts Survey. https://ncsfreedom.org/images/stories/pdfs/Consent%20Counts/CC_Docs_New_011513/consent%20survey%20analysis.pdf
  • Nordling, N., Sandnabba, N. K., & Santtila, P. (2000). The prevalence and effects of self-reported childhood sexual abuse among sadomasochistically oriented males and females. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 9(1), 53–63. https://doi.org/10.1300/J070v09n01_04
  • Ogden, G. (2018). Expanding the practice of sex therapy: An integrative approach for exploring desire and intimacy (2nd ed.). Routledge.
  • Ortmann, D. M., & Sprott, R. A. (2013). Sexual outsiders: Understanding BDSM sexualities and communities. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
  • Pillai-Friedman, S., Pollitt, J. L., & Castaldo, A. (2015). Becoming kink-aware—A necessity for sexuality professionals. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 30(2), 196–210. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681994.2014.975681
  • Powers, M. B., Halpern, J. M., Ferenschak, M. P., Gillihan, S. J., & Foa, E. B. (2010). A meta-analytic review of prolonged exposure for posttraumatic stress disorder. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(6), 635–641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.04.007
  • Powls, J., & Davies, J. (2012). A descriptive review of research relating to sadomasochism: Considerations for clinical practice. Deviant Behavior, 33(3), 223–234. https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2011.573391
  • Prior, E. E., Williams, D., Zavala, T., & Milford, J. (2019). What do(n’t) American undergraduate social work students learn about sex? A content analysis of sex positivity and diversity in five popular HBSE textbooks. Critical Social Work, 17(1), 55–73. https://doi.org/10.22329/csw.v17i1.5895
  • Rhodes, A. M. (2015). Claiming peaceful embodiment through yoga in the aftermath of trauma. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 21(4), 247–256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2015.09.004
  • Richters, J., de Visser, R. O., Rissel, C. E., Grulich, A. E., & Smith, A. M. A. (2008). Demographic and psychosocial features of participants in bondage and discipline, “sadomasochism” or dominance and submission (BDSM): Data from a national survey. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 5(7), 1660–1668. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2008.00795.x
  • Sagarin, B. J., Cutler, B., Cutler, N., Lawler-Sagarin, K. A., & Matuszewich, L. (2009). Hormonal changes and couple bonding in consensual sadomasochistic activity. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 38(2), 186–200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-008-9374-5
  • Schuerwegen, A., Huys, W., Coppens, V., De Neef, N., Henckens, J., Goethals, K., & Morrens, M. (2020). The psychology of kink: A cross-sectional survey study investigating the roles of sensation seeking and coping style in BDSM-related interests. Archives of Sexual Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01807-7
  • Shahbaz, C., & Chirinos, P. (2016). Becoming a kink aware therapist. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315295336
  • Shindel, A. W., & Moser, C. A. (2011). Why are the paraphilias mental disorders?The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 8(3), 927–929. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.02087.x
  • Simula, B. L. (2019). Pleasure, power, and pain: A review of the literature on the experiences of BDSM participants. Sociology Compass, 13(3), e12668. https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.12668
  • Southern, S. (2002). The tie that binds: Sadomasochism in female addicted trauma survivors. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 9(4), 209–229. https://doi.org/10.1080/10720160216050
  • Sprott, R. A. (2020). Reimagining “kink”: Transformation, growth, and healing through BDSM. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167819900036
  • Sprott, R. A., & Randall, A. M. (2017). Health disparities among kinky sex practitioners. Current Sexual Health Reports, 9(3), 104–108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-017-0113-6
  • Sprott, R. A., & Randall, A. M. (2019). Health disparities and kink as an unrecognized sexual minority: What’s next? Paper presented at Multiplicity of the Erotic Conference.
  • Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). Posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence. Psychological Inquiry, 15(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli1501_01
  • Teicher, M. H., & Samson, J. A. (2016). Annual research review: Enduring neurobiological effects of childhood abuse and neglect. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 57(3), 241–266. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12507
  • Ten Brink, S., Coppens, V., Huys, W., & Morrens, M. (2020). The psychology of kink: A survey study into the relationships of trauma and attachment style with BDSM interests. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-020-00438-w
  • Thomas, J. N. (2020). BDSM as trauma play: An autoethnographic investigation. Sexualities, 23(5–6), 917–933. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363460719861800
  • Van Nieuwenhove, K., & Meganck, R. (2019). Interpersonal features in complex trauma etiology, consequences, and treatment: A literature review. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 28(8), 903–928. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2017.1405316
  • Waldura, J. F., Arora, I., Randall, A. M., Farala, J. P., & Sprott, R. A. (2016). Fifty shades of stigma: Exploring the health care experiences of kink-oriented patients. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 13(12), 1918–1929. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.09.019
  • Walsh, K., Fortier, M. A., & DiLillo, D. (2010). Adult coping with childhood sexual abuse: A theoretical and empirical review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 15(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2009.06.009
  • Wegman, H. L., & Stetler, C. (2009). A meta-analytic review of the effects of childhood abuse on medical outcomes in adulthood. Psychosomatic Medicine, 71(8), 805–812. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181bb2b46
  • Weiss, M. D. (2006). Working at play: BDSM sexuality in the San Francisco bay area. Anthropologica, 48(2), 229–245. https://doi.org/10.2307/25605313
  • Weiss, M. D. (2015). BDSM (bondage, discipline, domination, submission, sadomasochism). In P. Whelehan & A. Bolin (Eds.), The international encyclopedia of human sexuality. Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Wignall, L., & McCormack, M. (2017). An exploratory study of a new kink activity: “Pup Play". Archives of Sexual Behavior, 46(3), 801–811. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-015-0636-8
  • Williams, J. (2017, November 27). BDSM blogging and the submissive body. Australian Sociological Association Conference. https://bit.ly/3eKS7JO
  • Williams, D., Thomas, J. N., Prior, E. E., & Christensen, M. C. (2014). From “SSC” and “RACK” to the “4Cs”: Introducing a new framework for negotiating BDSM participation. Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality, 17, 1–10.
  • Williams, D., Thomas, J. N., Prior, E. E., & Walters, W. (2015). Introducing a multidisciplinary framework of positive sexuality. Journal of Positive Sexuality, 1(1), 6–11. https://doi.org/10.51681/1.112
  • Wismeijer, A. A. J., & van Assen, M. A. L. M. (2013). Psychological characteristics of BDSM practitioners. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 10(8), 1943–1952. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsm.12192
  • World Health Organization. (2020, June 8). Violence against children. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/child-maltreatment
  • Wright, S. (2018). De-pathologization of consensual BDSM. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 15(5), 622–624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2018.02.018
  • Yost, M. R., & Hunter, L. E. (2012). BDSM practitioners’ understandings of their initial attraction to BDSM sexuality: Essentialist and constructionist narratives. Psychology and Sexuality, 3(3), 244–259. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2012.700028
  • Zeglin, R. J., R. M. Niemela, D., & Vandenberg, M. (2019). What does the counseling field say about sexuality? A content analysis. American Journal of Sexuality Education, 14(1), 55–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/15546128.2018.1518175

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.