Sadomasochism

Sadomasochism is a combination of two sexual traits; sadism and masochism. Sadism is the sexual pleasure or gratification in the infliction of pain and suffering upon another person and derives from the name of the Marquis de Sade, an 18th century French writer of sadistic novels. Masochism, the sexual pleasure or gratification of having pain or suffering inflicted upon ones self, and in turn derives from name of a 19th century author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, who was best known for his novel Venus in Furs that described a masochistic relationship.