Over time and with the decrease of taboos, we have identified many affinities that have psychological effect. One of them is theapplication of pain to lead towards sexual arousal.
In this sense, the wordalgolagniais a compound word that is born through Baron Schrenck Notzing and comes from the Greek algos: pain and lagneia: pleasure.
To highlight: It is important to find a difference between masochism and algolagnia, as they are not the same.
Therefore, in the following article we will then have a conceptualization of this type of complacency, the characteristics, types and considerations regarding it.
What is algolagnia?
It is aphysical pain that is associated with pleasure. It is quite related to the concepts of sadism and masochism, but it has its own nature.
It began to be taken into account in the twentieth century, after the existence of a work by Richard von Krafft-Ebing in 1886 entitledPsychopathia sexualis. (1)
It is regarded as a perversion. The big difference within the psychological realm is that masochism needs to feel power and be recognized as an authority with a hierarchy over obedience without hesitation.
However, in algolagnia the reaction to pain is not necessarily from a previous desire, but uncontrollable.
In a psychological research of theUniversity of Buenos AiresonPain and perversion, algolagnia is defined as aposition where pain is necessary for pleasure, defined through a deep link linked to slavery and humiliation. (2)
Characteristics of algolagnia
Algolagnia has certain characteristics, which allow it to be defined through basic medical concepts and thus understand it in a better way, in addition to opening the differential gap between other types of paraphilias. Below we will describe its main characteristics.
It is a psychological reaction to pain.
As we previously mentioned, the sexually aroused reaction to pain is uncontrollable, that is, it is not planned like masochism applied to increase sexual libido, but rather an automatic psychological activity when faced with external stimuli of pain or humiliation.
It should be noted that this type of submission is not limitedly physical.
May involve sexual pleasure related to pain
There is even a record of women who had orgasms during the birth process, so masochism should not necessarily be present in all cases of algolagnia. In many cases the pain is simply a symbolic form, like a masochistic suspense or a postponement and submission to pleasure in particular.
In the research article developed and entitled Fantasies of the masochistic scene , he talks about algolagnia as pleasure enhancers and fantasies sustainers, which seem to respond to support. (3)
It can be expressed on a physical, verbal or psychological level.
The erotic component of algolagnia includes physical, verbal and psychological variables , where the pain, as previously mentioned, should not come explicitly from torture or tangible applications, they can be mental games or triggers that intervene in the personal bond with the affliction and discomfort.
It is usually linked to sadism and masochism
Psychologically and pathologically, it is related to sadism and masochism from connotations of the usual definitions, which have to do with sexual pleasure linked to pain. Therefore, algolagnia is a less heavy paraphilia than the other two mentioned.
To highlight: In fact, without algolagnia there is no masochism, although without masochism there is algolagnia, but as different elements they have different parameters established by their pathologies.
The pursuit of pleasure can be avoided or addictive
By recognizing the typical reactions that occur in our body to pleasure, the search for pain can become addictive as a sexual compulsion, but also as a recognizable fixation, it is possible to avoid external agents that are capable of triggering stimulation.
Types of algolagnia
Below we will mention and describe the two types of algolagnia that can occur in individuals.
activate algolagnia
Activate algolagniais characterized by sadism. It is one where a deviation or perversion usually occurs, towards the fantasy of subjecting a person to having sexual relations through physical force.
Dr. Juan Carlos Romi in his article on Algolagnia , describes this type of active inclination as enjoyment over fear, humiliation, on a physical and verbal level and focused on triumphing over the resistance of the other individual. (4)
Within the existing variants, the following characteristic elements applied for correct stimulation are presented:
- Semi-strangulation.
- Hits.
- restraints
- Aggressive treatment of genitals and nipples.
Algolagnia passive
Passive algolagnia is characterized by masochism. That is to say, it is the enthusiasm for feeling dominated by another person, even enduring brute force and humiliation to find the pleasant side in this type of situation.
There is a high risk in this type of personality, since many times they manage to self-flagellate in search of pleasure and end up in situations where they put their lives at risk.
Suffering can be real or imagined, physical and psychological. Among these elements are mainly described:
- Flagellation
- ungulation
- Hanging
- girdle
Algolagnia considerations
There are certain factors that denote the decline of globalization about algolagnia, allowing some individuality to exist in these particular psychological characteristics. Here we present the three main ones.
Some consider it paraphilia
In the MSD Manual , Dr. George Brown defines paraphilia as the presence of frequent sexual behaviors or fantasies, of which the focus is that which determines and produces sexual arousal in the person. (5)
There is a certain variety and some contemplate infrequent elements. There are, within them, factors that determine the presence of a disorder and it is when we are physically or psychologically affected or we affect external people in the same way.
Important: Their recognition is of the utmost care and importance, since sexual desire is difficult to combat when the sense of reality is lost thanks to high levels of arousal.
It is not necessarily synonymous with masochism or sadism
Although they have a fairly intrinsic pathological relationship, they do not necessarily need the influence of these disorders to exist.
As we previously mentioned, it is often uncontrollable and unplanned, so recognition and the need to evade cause the individual not to seek to identify with any of these pathologies and assume limits.
A person can enjoy pain but wish not to.
This is exactly what it is about. The identification of obtaining pleasure through pain is not necessarily attractive to the individual. Perhaps the fear of losing their sanity or getting involved in an area to which they do not want to belong, are part of the reasons why people move away from that discovery.
It is important to know our limits and to know what is right and what is not. Both for ourselves and for the people around us. Going against someone’s will is extremely harmful and it is important to respect the position of a no.
Key takeaways
- Algolagnia is a compound word that comes from the Greek algos: pain and lagneia: pleasure. That is, a physical pain that is associated with pleasure.
- Although algolagnia looks similar, it should not be confused with sadism-masochism. In the case of algolagnia, the reaction to pain is not necessarily from a previous desire, but rather uncontrollable. In masochism, you need to feel power and be recognized as an authority.
- There are two types of algolagnia. Algolagnia active: it is characterized by sadism, it is a deviation or perversion, towards the fantasy of subjecting a person to have sexual relations through physical force. Passive algolagnia is characterized more by masochism, enthusiasm is felt by feeling dominated by another person.
- A person can enjoy pain but not want it. That is why it is important to know our limits and that of other people.
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.