Sexual Sadism and Masochism as a Subject of Human Interest

The research in sexual sadism and masochism has been a part of the study of human sexuality for several centuries. However, consensual sadomasochism and its eventual acceptance as a sexual variation rather than as a disorder is a recent development in the history of human sexuality. The legal and especially the medicinal understanding are currently undergoing major shifts in Central Europe. Nevertheless, the question remains as to which sexual differences, despite their depathologization, are not only tolerated but actually accepted. Various media have substantially contributed to the normalization of the practices included in the abbreviation BDSM and have caused both the activities themselves and their symbolism to enter the mainstream culture. For this reason, it has become nearly impossible to draw the line between statistically average sexuality and specific sexual variation, both for the professionals and for the participants themselves.