SM

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SM, or Sadomasochism is the giving or receiving of pleasure—often sexual—from acts involving the infliction or reception of pain or humiliation. A subset of BDSM, practitioners of sadomasochism usually seek out sexual gratification from these acts, but can also seek out other forms of personal pleasure.

The abbreviation S&M is often used for sadomasochism to indicate Sadism and Masochism, although practitioners themselves often drop the & and use the acronym SM or S/M.

Sadomasochism is not considered a clinical paraphilia unless such practices lead to clinically significant distress or impairment for a diagnosis. Similarly, sexual sadism within the context of mutual consent should not be mistaken for acts of sexual violence or aggression.

The term "Sadomasochism" has been loosely used to refer to the entire umbrella of BDSM, however, this is not at all accurate as SM is only one third of the subdivisions present in the term BDSM.

Sadists and Masochists

While the terms sadist and masochist specifically refer to one who either enjoys giving pain (sadist), or one who enjoys receiving pain (masochist), many practitioners of sadomasochism may enjoy experiencing both sadism and masochism (switch). Voyeurs of SM may find they experience a sadistic, masochistic or switch enjoyment from viewing an SM experience.