The Psychobiology of BDSM in BDSM Contexts

presented by Edwin Perez, MD

Pain is a form of sensation that is interpreted differently by a variety of people. Multiple factors affect the experience and subsequent effects of pain, such as extent of injury, emotional state, and environmental context. In this lecture, we will define several distinct types of pain states and the ways in which they are processed by the body and the mind. We will explore how pain presents in clinical situations, the connection between acute and chronic pain states, and their effect on sexuality and its expression. Pain has been used in ritual for centuries by various cultures to augment intimacy, connection, and allow for vulnerability in relationships; we will explore how some individuals and cultures use pain as a means of augmenting connection and pleasurable sensation. These historical case studies reveal alternate options for reframing the experience of pain from an “all or nothing experience” to a complex and versatile facet of the human condition.

*includes 1.5 NYS SW and/or AASECT CE credits