The Psychology of Kink: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study Investigating the Roles of Sensation Seeking and Coping Style in
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ORIGINAL PAPER
The Psychology of Kink: A Cross‑Sectional Survey Study Investigating the Roles of Sensation Seeking and Coping Style in BDSM‑Related Interests Alana Schuerwegen1 · Wim Huys1,2 · Violette Coppens2,3 · Nele De Neef4 · Josée Henckens2 · Kris Goethals1,2 · Manuel Morrens2,3 Received: 12 July 2018 / Revised: 17 July 2020 / Accepted: 20 July 2020 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Despite the gaining popularity in mainstream media of the phenomenon that is BDSM, empirical research on the motives and underlying psychological mechanisms driving BDSM practitioners is scarce. The current study focused on the potential driving roles of sensation seeking and coping styles in BDSM-related interests and behavior. A cross-sectional survey questionnaire was completed by 256 Dutch-speaking BDSM practitioners (110 men, 135 women, 7 gender fluid, 2 genderless, 1 other not specified), 1 missing (this participant did not answer the question regarding gender, but did answer all other survey items) and a matched control group lacking any BDSM interest recruited from the general Belgian population (N = 300; 135 men, 158 women, 4 gender fluid, 3 genderless). The questionnaire consisted of several items surveying different BDSM identities and interest levels of BDSM-related activities, an adapted version of the Dutch Sensation Seeking Scale, and items querying seven coping styles. Compared to controls, BDSM practitioners reported significantly higher levels of sensation seeking for all dimensions (experience seeking, thrill seeking, and distraction seeking), as well as the use of more active coping skills such as problem solving and taking action. Gender differentiated which specific coping skills were being used with women seeking out more emotional support and comfort and reaching out more for help and advice in both the BDSM and control group, and men taking more action and seeking distraction in leisure. About 40% of the practitioners reported using BDSM itself as a coping strategy. Further research is needed to explore the link between coping and sexuality in general, and to other psychological processes that drive BDSM interests in order to destigmatize and normalize consensual BDSM-related activities within the general population. Keywords BDSM · Psychological mechanisms · Sensation seeking · Coping · Bondage and discipline · Sadism and masochism · Kink
Introduction
* Alana Schuerwegen [email protected] 1
University Forensic Center, Department of Psychiatry, Campus University Hospital Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
2
Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
3
University Department of Psychiatry, University Psychiatric Center Duffel, Duffel, Belgium
4
Europe Hospitals, Campus St. Michel, Brussels, Belgium
In recent years, BDSM—an acronym for bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, and sadism and masochism—has become a widely know
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