The term 'moral masochism' is used in this paper to describe those forms of masochism which appear as a 'norm of behaviour' in contrast with sexual or perverse masochism.

Berliner's presentation starts with Freud's distinction between self-torment and masochism. The prerequisite of masochism is an object-relationship. His thesis is that this object does not enter the picture only after the masochist's passive aim has been established, but has been a reality in his life from the beginning, and has been instrumental in bringing about the whole masochistic process. The essence of the masochist's problem is that he has to love someone who hates him; and such a person is always to be found in his history, though the degree of hatred necessary to traumatize is variable. Masochism is thus 'the sadism of the love object