Though sadomasochistic behaviours and desires do not necessarily need to be linked to sex, sadomasochism is also a definitive feature of consensual BDSM relationships. The word sadomasochism is a portmanteau of the words sadism and masochism. Sadism is named after Marquis de Sade β , whose major works include graphic descriptions of violent sex acts, rape, torture, and murder, and whose characters often derive pleasure from inflicting pain on others.
Masochism is named after Leopold von Sacher-Masoch β , whose novels explored his masochistic fantasies of receiving pain and degradation, [ 6 ] particularly his novel Venus im Pelz " Venus in Furs ". German psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing introduced the terms sadism and masochism into clinical use in his work Neue Forschungen auf dem Gebiet der Psychopathia sexualis "New research in the area of Psychopathology of Sex" in In , Sigmund Freud described sadism and masochism in his Drei Abhandlungen zur Sexualtheorie "Three Papers on Sexual Theory" as stemming from aberrant psychological development from early childhood.
He also laid the groundwork for the widely accepted medical perspective [ clarification needed ] in the following decades. In the later 20th century, BDSM activists protested against these ideas [ which? Nomenclature in previous editions of the DSM referring to sexual psychopathology have been criticized as lacking scientific veracity.
Sadomasochism has been practiced since ancient times [ where? Early libertine writers like John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester espoused ideals that modern times are associated with sadomasochism. The modern conceptualization of sadomasochism was introduced to the medical field by German psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing in his compilation of case studies Psychopathia Sexualis. Pain and physical violence are not essential in Krafft-Ebing's conception, and he defined "masochism" German Masochismus entirely in terms of control.
French philosopher Gilles Deleuze argued that the concurrence of sadism and masochism proposed in Freud's model is the result of "careless reasoning," and should not be taken for granted.
