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Reik investigates the phenomenology of masochism, and endeavors to emphasize those traits characteristic for all forms of masochism. As such general traits he discusses the importance of fantasy, the suspense factor, and exhibitionism.
Reik gives an excellent description of the masochistic achievement of pleasure. End pleasure is avoided because it involves anxiety. This results in the condition for which he suggests the word 'suspense'. 'It is a tension within a tension … between anxiety and pleasure…' Instead of pleasure 'which brings with it an anxiety, there now appears an anxiety which produces pleasure'. Apart from these well-known phenomena which lead to the conclusion that 'masochism is not characterized by a pleasure in pain, but by a pleasure in the expectation of pain', Reik investigates more thoroughly the relation between pleasure and pain. The masochist can achieve greater pleasure by greater pain. Reik believes that the masochist can thereby achieve a normal orgasm which seems questionable. The pain of the masochist is self-contrived. It is protection from a passive suffering of punishment by actively inflicting it on oneself.
Fantasy is of particular significance for all forms of masochism. This is