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Hormones, Pain, and Altered States: A Scientific Search for the Essence of Sadomasochism

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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Hormones, Pain, and Altered States: A Scientific Search for the Essence of Sadomasochism

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  1. Brad Sagarin Northern Illinois University Hormones, Pain, and Altered States: A Scientific Search for the Essence of Sadomasochism

  2. Hamilton’s 1929 survey of 200 married men and women: 51% 28% Men 32% 29% Women “Pleasant thrills” frominflicting pain “Pleasant thrills” fromreceiving pain

  3. Clinical Criminal Consensual

  4. 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

  5. Participants and methods • 13 participants: Arizona Power Exchange (APEX) • 45 participants: Thunder in the Mountains • Questionnaires and saliva samples before and after scenes

  6. Testosterone

  7. Cortisol

  8. Relationship closeness

  9. Relationship closeness

  10. Before, During and Aftercare

  11. 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

  12. SM without sex?

  13. 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

  14. Participants and methods • 67 participants: Southwest Leather Conference (SWLC) • Questionnaires, saliva samples, cognitive tests, behavioral observation

  15. Sexual orientation and BDSM roles

  16. Positive and negative affect p = .18 p = .01

  17. Psychological stress Extremely p = .02 Not at all

  18. Physiological stress (cortisol) p = .06

  19. Intimacy p = .85 p = .005

  20. 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.”

  21. 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.”

  22. 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.”

  23. Themes

  24. Conceptualizing the Dance Extremely p<.001 Not at all

  25. Altered states of consciousness • Physiological short term changes in the brain caused by SM related activities

  26. 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)

  27. Consciousness as a Process

  28. Transient Hypofrontality Hypothesis Dietrich (2003)

  29. The Stroop Test

  30. Read the word

  31. Green

  32. Red

  33. Blue

  34. Yellow

  35. Name the color

  36. XXXXX

  37. XXXXX

  38. XXXXX

  39. XXXXX

  40. Read the word

  41. Yellow

  42. Green

  43. Blue

  44. Red

  45. Name the color

  46. Green

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