Explains the subtle but pervasive aspects of sadomasochism that affect everyday relationships across our lives, detailing when the power and control dynamics become neurotic and describing actions that can be taken to better individuals and improve society.For most people, a whip-wielding, leather-clad sexual subculture comes to mind when they hear the phrase "sadomasochism." But as psychiatrist Martin Kantor explains in this book, sadomasochism is generally about power, control, dominance, and submission, dynamics that are subtle and pervasive in all of our lives, from home life to work life to social interactions including political arenas. The bottom line: sadomasochism is about the giving or receiving pleasure from the infliction or reception of pain or humiliation and both pain and pleasure can be purely emotional, no sexual or physical context necessary. Kantor deconstructs sadomasochism to show us how it affects each of us, consciously or not. He explains the "life phases" of sadomasochism, the role early trauma plays in this self-defeating action when it reaches a neurotic level, and the damage it does to individuals, loved ones, and society. This ground-breaking book will appeal to psychology students and researchers, as well as general readers with an interest in psychology.

Introduction: A SummaryPart One: Recognizing the ElementsChapter 1Introduction: An OverviewChapter 2Unique Characteristics of SadomasochismChapter 3More Unique Characteristics of SadomasochismChapter 4The Sadomasochism of Everyday Life: Negative and Positive AspectsChapter 5The Fundamental Role That Anger Plays in Individual SadomasochismChapter 6Sadomasochistic GroupsPart Two: CausationChapter 7Causal Classification: An Overview of Various Pathways of DevelopmentChapter 8Classification According to the Level of Psychiatric Illness: The Psychotic SpectrumChapter 9Classification According to the Level of Psychiatric Illness: The Neurotic and Personality Disorder SpectrumChapter 10Classification According to the Level of Psychiatric Illness: Post-Traumatic Stress DisorderChapter 11Various Motivations for Being a SadomasochistChapter 12Comorbid ContributionsChapter 13Cognitive Causality and TherapyPart Three: TreatmentChapter 14TherapyNotesIndex