Is BDSM Healthy or a Deviant Fetish?
A popular assumption about people who engage in BDSM is that there must be some kind of psychological pathology underlying their kink. After all, the DSM-V lists some paraphilias, though it now distinguishes between a paraphilia and paraphilic disorder. But, is BDSM healthy?
More on Paraphilia versus Paraphilic Disorder
A paraphilia refers to a specific sexual interest that deviates from the culturally normative. It involves intense and recurrent sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviors that revolve around non-human objects, non-consenting individuals, or activities causing suffering or humiliation. Examples of paraphilias include exhibitionism, voyeurism, fetishism, sadism, masochism, and pedophilia.
A paraphilic disorder, as defined in the DSM-V, is characterized by distress, impairment, or harm to oneself or others due to the presence of a paraphilia. While the presence of a paraphilia alone does not necessarily indicate a disorder, when it causes significant distress or harm or interferes with a person’s ability to function in daily life, it may be classified as a paraphilic disorder.
The distinction between a paraphilia and a paraphilic disorder lies in the impact of the condition on an individual’s well-being and functioning. A paraphilia becomes a paraphilic disorder when it causes distress, impairs interpersonal relationships, creates a risk of harm to oneself or others, or results in an inability to control or limit the behavior associated with the paraphilia.
The Study
A 2006 study by Connolly sought to address psychological functioning in BDSM practitioners in a rather thorough manner. The author recruited 132 BDSM practitioners from southern California to participate in the study.
The study asked them to answer a rather in depth battery of psychological assessments including the MMPI-2, MCMI, Beck Depression Inventory and many others. It assessed all manner of psychological issues, including trauma. The participants were also asked questions about their BDSM activities and preferred behaviors.
Struggling with excessive sexual thoughts, urges, or activities that are causing you distress? Take the free, online Sexual Symptom Assessment Scale (SSAS) and get a link to share with your therapist.
Did the study answer the question: Is BDSM Healthy?
The study found that across most psychological categories tested, BDSM participants scored similarly to the normative samples.
- Depression
- The participants in this sample scored lower in depression than the normative sample
- Anxiety
- The participants scored overall lower in anxiety than comparative groups
- PTSD & Trauma
- PTSD scores on the MMPI-2 and MCMI – III were lower than the general population
- Dissociation
- The participants scores were higher than the normative sample on the MDI scale
- Sadism & Masochism
- The participants scored low on psychological sadism.
- Personality
- The participants scored higher on narcissism than the norm and did not score higher than the norm on any other personality profiles.
Are you a Licensed Professional Counselor in need of continuing education? Learn more about Sex Addiction, Erotic Conflict, and Moral Incongruence from Dr. Weeks and Sexual Addiction Treatment Services, an NBCC ACEP™ approved provider!
Sexual Addiction Treatment Services has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7250. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Sexual Addiction Treatment Services is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
So, Is BDSM Healthy?
The results indicated that the people in the study sample, BDSM practitioners from Southern California, were no different than the normative samples used on all of the assessment measures.
There was evidence for higher levels narcissism in the study population. There was also some evidence to suggest that this group had higher levels of narcissism than the normative sample as well. Additionally, the study participants did not have higher levels of trauma than the normative sample.
The authors conclude that there is “little support for the view that psychopathology underlies the behavior.”
Reference: Connolly, P. (2006). Psychological Functioning of Bondage/Domination/Sado-Masochism (BDSM) Practitioners. Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality, DOI: 10.1300/JO56v18n01_05
Have you found yourself in legal trouble due to your sexual behavior? Seek assistance before the court mandates it, with Sexual Addiction Treatment Services.
Do you feel your sexual behavior, or that of someone you love, is out of control? Then you should consult with a professional.
Are you looking for more reputable data-backed information on sexual addiction? The Mitigation Aide Research Archive is an excellent source for executive summaries of research studies.
