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Upon reviewing the literature on masochism in relation to the life of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch certain ideas are presented, namely: [1] the concepts about masochism have become so generalized as to make the term cloudy; [2] passivity is separate from masochism and aggression/assertion is separate from sadism; [3] there is no pleasure in pain, but the pain allows pleasure to be experienced; [4] physical pain type of masochism is separate and distinct from the “other masochism”; [5] there is avoidance in the psychiatric literature of this problem; [6] Masoch is more rejected by the scientific community than de Sade; [7] masochism defends against a frightening sadism; [8] the masochist (particularly the pain needing type) is at best borderline in ego functioning; [9] masochism is not just an expression of pre- oedipal needs, but is a defensive function, (as is true for all perversions); [10] all masochists are depressed, (as is true for all self depreciatory or self injurious conditions) and [11] infantile pre-genital sadism underlies all masochism.
For there is a kind of pleasure that is akin to pain. — Seneca
Each man is concerned with his own pleasures; and that is sweet which springs from another's pain. — Ovid
The problem of masochism has presented many difficulties to clinicians. It has also presented even more problems to theoreticians. There have been a variety of explanations and definitions. Though Krafft-Ebing (1898) gave the name masochism to a particular symptom complex, it has since been applied to a variety of other clinical entities that he did not describe. Krafft-Ebing based his label upon the life of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch. Therefore, it is appropriate that we re-examine the life of the Chevalier von Sacher-Masoch and perhaps gain some understanding of this problem.