The social organization of sadism and masochism

Sadism and masochism, traditionally studied as an individual psychopathology, may be more fully understood as a sociological phenomenon. Sadomasochists have developed a subculture characterized by a set of norms, shared ideologies, and a common argot. Contacts among sadomasochists are made through magazine advertisements, participation in clubs and organizations, through exposure to this behavior in other deviant subcultures, and fortuitously.

Sadomasochistic organizations, while differing widely among themselves, serve similar functions for their members: (1) they facilitate sexual and social contacts; (2) they provide members with information about techniques, events, other organizations, films, and so forth; (3) they develop and communicate justifications and apologias enabling people to accept their feelings and behavior as normal; and (4) they enable people to segregate their sadomasochistic needs and behavior from other areas of their lives.