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Brad Sagarin Northern Illinois University. Hormones, Pain, and Altered States: A Scientific Search for the Essence of Sadomasochism. Hamilton’s 1929 survey of 200 married men and women:. 51%. 28%. Men. 32%. 29%. Women. “Pleasant thrills” from inflicting pain.
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Brad Sagarin Northern Illinois University Hormones, Pain, and Altered States: A Scientific Search for the Essence of Sadomasochism
Hamilton’s 1929 survey of 200 married men and women: 51% 28% Men 32% 29% Women “Pleasant thrills” frominflicting pain “Pleasant thrills” fromreceiving pain
Clinical Criminal Consensual
Physiological and psychological effects of consensual BDSM • Hormonal changes and couple bonding in consensual sadomasochistic activity • Co-authors: • Bert Cutler • Nadine Cutler • Kimberly Lawler-Sagarin • Leslie Matuszewich
Participants and methods • 13 participants: Arizona Power Exchange (APEX) • 45 participants: Thunder in the Mountains • Questionnaires and saliva samples before and after scenes
Conclusions • SM activities show marked physiological and psychological effects on participants • Aftereffects confirm reports by SM practitioners: Reductions in stress and increases in relationship closeness • Opposite effects occurred in the scene that went poorly
Dance of Souls • Sadomasochism without sex: Pain as a catalyst to transcend the self • Co-authors: • Kathryn Klement • Ellen Lee • James Ambler • Sarah Hanson • Evelyn Comber • David Wietting • Michael Wagner • Valerie Burns • Bert Cutler • Elwood Reid
Participants and methods • 67 participants: Southwest Leather Conference (SWLC) • Questionnaires, saliva samples, cognitive tests, behavioral observation
Positive and negative affect p = .18 p = .01
Psychological stress Extremely p = .02 Not at all
Physiological stress (cortisol) p = .06
Intimacy p = .85 p = .005
Why are you participating in the Dance?What do you hope to get from the experience? • “It is a wonderful way to exchange energy not just with my owner but with my tribe. It is transcendental & amazing. It is also a great way to release the negative.” • “I find peace, power, and well-being at these events.” • “To participate in high energetic levels and feel the transformation that can occur in myself and others.” • “I have had visions and deep spiritual experiences. Or not. But it's fun anyway.”
Thoughts or feelings during the Dance • “I am in an amazing happy place. Serene yet joyous.” • “Connection through the drums and the tribe and the shared energy that overrides any pain and -opens my heart and mind to a focus beyond the physical.” • “Just very high!!!” • “Pleasantly exhausted” • “I'm very happy and aroused. I feel strong and beautiful.”
After the Dance • “Observed energetic releases of others, saw emotions stir in many; tears, anger, screaming, laughter, pure joy. Many had variety of different experiences. I got to share in all of them, and feel their release.” • “The experience was quite calming. The degree of pain I allowed myself to have physically allowed my hyper-analytic brain to focus/center on the present. With the exception of knitting and crochet, pain this intense is the only way I can truly fall into this state of peace/have a quiet mind.”
Conceptualizing the Dance Extremely p<.001 Not at all
Altered states of consciousness • Physiological short term changes in the brain caused by SM related activities
Escape from the Self The self is sometimes burdensome • "The greater the demands in my outside life, the likelier I am to feel submissive sexually." Baumeister(1988) Wiseman (1996)
Transient Hypofrontality Hypothesis Dietrich (2003)
