What Does It Mean To Be Sadistic?

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In this video, I explore the definition of sadism and discuss some examples of sadistic behavior. I also talk about the origins of the word and how it's used today.
Sadism is the desire to intentionally harm someone and derive pleasure from it. The harm can be physical or mental harm. The key difference between being cruel or mean and being sadistic is getting pleasure from inflicting the harm.

References
American Psychiatric Association. (1987). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed., revised)

Kowalski, Christopher Marcin et al. “Enthusiastic Acts of Evil: The Assessment of Sadistic Personality in Polish and Italian Populations.” Journal of personality assessment vol. 102,6 (2020): 770-780. doi:10.1080/00223891.2019.1673760

Coolidge, et al. (2018). An empirical investigation of a new measure to assess abrasive personality disorder traits. Scientific Research:Psychology (9)1. DOI: 10.4236/psych.2018.91008

Fedoroff JP. Sadism, sadomasochism, sex, and violence. Can J Psychiatry. 2008;53(10):637-646. doi:10.1177/070674370805301003

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Disclaimer: All of the information on this channel is for educational purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/question, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussion with your doctor.

[tayzonday]

It would be interesting to hear you talk about how this intersects with military training, psychology and trauma. Training soldiers to kill enemies and continue as mentally healthy civilians has actually been a historical challenge.

[jamestheguitarslayer]

I don't really open up about these things but I'm gonna open up this this once. I am sadistic but I also really enjoy trying to help people. It's very hard for me to be honest. I was one of those kids that enjoyed hurting animals. And it still haunts me. I am fulfilled by attempting to put smiles on people's faces. But there's still that craving to hurt others deep down. Lately I've figured out how to satisfy that urge to hurt others. I like to do the slightest things to inconvenience people like leaving the toilet paper roll empty on purpose. It really hurts though because I genuinely want to live to help others and I'm not joking when I say it is a constant mental battle and it destroys me

[EGGrun]

Once on a trip there was a kid and his grandma. The aprox. 7yo kept pinching his grandma and asked creepily: Does it hurt? How much does it hurt? clearly enjoying it. He spotted a dog nearby a stream and repeated: Drown, doggy, drown...like an incantation. If that wasn't a serial killer in making, I don't know. I hope they got him some help.

[wendio]

Interesting the difference between a sadist and a psychopath. Hi Tracey love your YouTube videos. Really helped me with my cyclothymia!♡

[travellpc]

Great video! The criteria for sadism reminds me of the behavior of overt racists: pursues minorities to humiliate, intentionally emotionally/physically harms, shows cruelty to those considered inferior/subordinates and will lie to weaponize authority figures against minorities. Explains the effort that racists put into pursuing those that they claim to hate…enjoyment.

[somethingyousaid]

I remember mentioning you to my psychologist/psychotherapist in the past telling her how impressed I am with your videos and with your youtube channel. Also, more than once in my psychotherapy sessions I've referenced specific information contained in your videos. I think you have a gift for presenting information in such a way that I am able to remember it.
Anyway, thank you and keep up the good work. 👍

[loha]

I'm a sadist, i want it to stop tho, but i tend to have times i cant stop myself and and have a different personallity, i feel a strong guilt tho after hurting people mentally and sometimes physically

[Star-djkw]

5:25 I appreciate the explanation of the definitions of psychopathy, sadism, narcissistic PD, and antisocial personality disorder.

[Cathy-xicb]

Excellent explanation of the emotional connection for sadistic behavior compared with antisocial and psychopathic behavior. When they don't care how you react, you have yourself a different animal. When they relish your pain, you have a sadist.

[planetkvax]

Thank you Dr Marks. It's difficult for me to accept that a serial killer can be a mentally healthy person. But I can understand that there must be a discrimination in the disorders so that not everyone is regarded as psychopath in the court.

[Chris_M_Romero]

I wonder if there's a difference between the people who fantasize about indulging themselves in the sadistic behavior and the people who actually carries out those sadistic acts.

[attheranch]

Thanks for talking about this. It’s hard to find anything on it. My dad was sadistic 😬. I’d like to learn more about what happens to kids that are raised by sadistic parents. There’s tons of information on narcissistic parents, but thats very different.

[katbland]

My favorite mental health education Channel on YouTube. She presents the information and doesn't make me feel stupid for not knowing. I WANT to learn from her, I also want her to be my therapist 😂😂 but I'll take what I can get with the videos. Lolol I Just found this channel and I fell in love, which happened to be a video about picking. My bf plucks and I pick and I always wondered 'is this a thing or are we just weird' and I found that out bc of her and this channel. 😊 Well that and much much more.

[Nancy-ywrr]

My ex spouse was diagnosed with NPD and sadism- a HORRIBLE combination. He did not ever torture animals though...he saved that all for me. He was a bully and often violent.

[annellealexander]

This was a really good video and the visuals were quite spot on. Well done Doc! 👏

[PaperMario]

Wow. I can understand why it was removed, but I feel that people are so ignorant to these behavioral types. I have known sadistic people and when I see them full of glee at someone else’s demise, that’s when I steer clear. Before understanding NPD I never believed people would intentionally plot and plan to harm another person. That was for the neighborhood boogie man. But it’s also people who smile in your face, charm you with compliments and shower you with affection and attention.

[alexia]

I'm curious about the intersection of sadism with narcissism. I've seen in my personal life and in public figures people that by and large fit the pattern of a narcissist in how they relate to the people they abuse, but there is a streak of genuine enjoyment and pleasure in causing pain for the sake of causing pain. Sometimes those same people will have times where they do or say something hurtful, and then get even more angry because they have guilt and they're aware that they tarnished their own self-image so now that anger leaks out and poisons the air too, and sometimes they'll come back later and cry and apologize and beg forgiveness to save their own self-image, but there are those times when you see glee in their eyes watching someone feel pain. Just cold-blooded glee.

[peterramirez]

Dr. Marks based on this and several videos you’ve released i’m convinced you have a patient that has this personality profile of having a weak ego, spiteful, eye for an eye shallow deductive reasoning, entitled, self absorbed and in summary lacking certain basic levels of empathy with patient goals of only bettering themselves vs having any consideration for others. I hope you consider writing a book on these people and the best ways to systemically deal with them both in personal & business environments & a true miracle if you find the way to change their intentions. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos🙏

[ljmotivateu]

I saw in my environment that people celebrate hearing or seeing the people they don't like failed. It is important that children grow in a healthy environment to protect their development.

[truth.honesty]

It's when sadism blends with psychopathy is when it's a problem physically or emotionally.