Sexual behavior and social adaptation among sadomasochistically‐oriented males

Abstract The present study explored the sexual behavior and social adaptation of a sample of male sadomasochists. A total of 164 men who were members of two sadomasochistically‐oriented clubs participated in the study. The numbers of heterosexual male and gay male participants were about equal. A semi‐structured questionnaire containing items related to social, sexual, and psychological aspects of the participants' lives was used. The results showed that the participants were socially well‐adjusted and that sadomasochistic behavior was mainly a facilitative aspect of their sexual lives, most participants being flexible in both sexual activities and sadomasochistic role‐taking. Sadists were more likely to be younger and more sexually active than masochists.