Sadism

Scholarlypsychologyphilosophy

Etymology

An eponym coined by psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing in "Psychopathia Sexualis" (1886), after the French writer the Marquis de Sade, whose novels dwelt on eroticized cruelty. It has since broadened from a sexual disorder to any relish in others’ pain.

  1. noun · /SAY-diz-um/

    Pleasure taken in the suffering, humiliation, or pain of others.

    What it names

    The disturbing surplus beyond cruelty — when hurting is not a means to an end but the reward itself.

    Example

    There was a streak of sadism in how he fired people — always on a Friday, always in front of the team.

    Related idea

    Cruelty describes the act; sadism describes the appetite behind it. One can be cruel from indifference or calculation; the sadist is cruel because it feels good.

See also

CrueltyMaliceSchadenfreude