How common is sexual sadomasochism in individuals?

The kinks are as varied as the individuals, it’s hard to make sweeping statements. And it is not all that rare, just take a look on the craigslist personals.

I may just be much more aware because of living in the San Francisco Bay Area. After all, the Folsom Street Fair has some pretty far out things going on.

I hear a lot of women saying things about ‘pulling hair’ and scratching, but true s&m is rare to hear about. A lot of people aren’t open about that either, conservative area.

Not sure how you can separate them, unless they are serial killers.

@zenvelo I just mean in the general human population. Without any regard to culture, just general inclination. But yes, it is hard to say for sure. I just wonder would it be something like: 1 in 20? 1 in 10?? 1 in 4???

@KNOWITALL Those fall under the realm of general sexual arousal, but I am almost certain there is some link between the desire for the mild stress caused by those behaviors, and the desire for more severe stress. You are right in that the culture of secrecy about this adds in to the difficulty of knowing how pervasive it is.

@LornaLove You definitely lost me there… Although serial killers have, nearly always, an Anti-Social Personality Disorder (Sociopathy) many people who are sadomasochists dont necessarily have any thing like that. I had heard it theorized before that masochists are actually sadists that punish themselves for their perceived sadistic impulses. I am not sure that I buy into that, but perhaps for some that could certainly be the case.

@LuckyGuy Aww cmon.. Didnt you ever read The Hellbound Heart? It’s how you unlock the doors to paradise ;)

@hogbuttons There’s a lot of closet freaks, but you have to be choosy and careful who you get freaky with. Only one person in my entire life made me feel like I could anything and everything without judgement – ONE, and I’m 40 yrs old.

Sex, by any standard that I can imagine, is a good deal because it feels good.
I am not saying that some people don’t wish it would hurt or be otherwise uncomfortable. They clearly do.
But it seems apparent that most people do it because it feels good.
People who find excitement in uncomfortable or painful situations are, in my opinion, pretty weird.
Not that I would ever try to stop them. That is their business.
But I will always regard them as weird.

@josie Does the idea of jumping out of an airplane, or some adrenaline soaked activity weird also? It seems like one is taking some pleasure in fear, in those instances. Either way, I suppose “weird” is one of those words so subjective it renders it’s meaning too amorphous to be of any substantial use to anyone but the subject. Some more etymologically inclined individual might correct me, but I believe it comes from the three fate sisters of Nordic Mythology. Not that there is any relevant point to that information, but is just kinda neat.

If you are interested, the The DSM Diagnostic Criteria for Sexual Masochism has a great deal of information and a comprehensive list of studies. It would probably take a bit of sleuthing, but you may be able to get an idea of prevalence in the general population.

@syz Thanks! What a great find, great resource. I havent dug into too hard yet, but from skimming through it would appear to be very rare indeed.
It would seem like there are plenty of people who do some “experimentation” like at the Folsom Street Fair, as was mentioned, or couples using whips and chains, etc., but to be really predisposed with it as a paraphilia is seemingly very rare. From what Im gathering having any paraphilia is seemingly rare. Not that I thought it would be common, mind you, but am just surprised at how rare is all.