Sadism may refer to: *

Everyday sadism Everyday sadism (also known as subclinical sadism or simply sadism) is a personality trait characterized by the enjoyment of inflicting or witnessing pain upon other people or animals. Those who fit the characteristic are referred to as "sadists" o ...

, the derivation of gratification from the physical pain or humiliation of another person *

Sadomasochism Sadism () and masochism (), known collectively as sadomasochism ( ) or S&M, is the derivation of pleasure from acts of respectively inflicting or receiving pain or humiliation. The term is named after the Marquis de Sade, a French author known ...

, the giving or receiving of pleasure from acts involving the receipt or infliction of pain or humiliation *

Sadistic personality disorder Sadistic personality disorder is an obsolete term for a proposed personality disorder defined by a pervasive pattern of sadistic and cruel behavior. People who fitted this diagnosis were thought to have a desire to control others and to have a ...

, an obsolete clinical term proposed for individuals who derive pleasure from the suffering of others *

Sexual sadism disorder Sexual sadism disorder is the condition of experiencing sexual arousal in response to the pain, suffering or humiliation of other people. Several other terms are used to describe the condition, and it may overlap with other conditions that invol ...

, a medical/psychological condition for sexual arousal from inflicting pain/humiliation on unwilling, non-consenting victims

See also