Sadistic personality disorder was a
personality disorder
Personality disorders (PD) are a class of mental disorders characterized by enduring maladaptive patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner experience, exhibited across many contexts and deviating from those accepted by the individual's culture ...
defined by a pervasive pattern of
sadistic
Sadism may refer to:
* Sadomasochism, the giving or receiving of pleasure from acts involving the receipt or infliction of pain or humiliation
* Sadistic personality disorder, an obsolete term proposed for individuals who derive pleasure from the s ...
and cruel behavior. People with this disorder were thought to have desired to control others. It was believed they accomplish this through the use of physical or emotional violence. This diagnosis appeared in an appendix of the ''
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders'' (
DSM-III-R
The ''Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders'' (DSM; latest edition: DSM-5-TR, published in March 2022) is a publication by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) for the classification of mental disorders using a common langua ...
).
[Hucker, Stephen J]
Sadistic Personality Disorder
/ref> The later versions of the DSM (DSM-IV
The ''Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders'' (DSM; latest edition: DSM-5-TR, published in March 2022) is a publication by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) for the classification of mental disorders using a common langu ...
, DSM-IV-TR
The ''Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders'' (DSM; latest edition: DSM-5-TR, published in March 2022) is a publication by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) for the classification of mental disorders using a common langua ...
, and DSM-5
The ''Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition'' (DSM-5), is the 2013 update to the '' Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders'', the taxonomic and diagnostic tool published by the American Psychiatri ...
) do not include it. It was removed as psychiatrists believed it would be used to legally excuse sadistic behavior.
Symptoms and behaviors
Sadistic personality disorder was defined by a pervasive pattern egosyntonic
In psychoanalysis, egosyntonic refers to the behaviors, values, and feelings that are in harmony with or acceptable to the needs and goals of the ego, or consistent with one's ideal self-image. Egodystonic (or ''ego alien'') is the opposite, re ...
of sadistic behavior. Individuals possessing sadistic personalities tend to display recurrent aggression and cruel behavior. People with this disorder will use violence and aggression in an attempt to control and dominate others. When others refuse to submit to their will, they will increase the level of violence they use. Many sadists will verbally and emotionally abuse others rather than physically, purposefully manipulating others through the use of fear
Fear is an intensely unpleasant emotion in response to perceiving or recognizing a danger or threat. Fear causes physiological changes that may produce behavioral reactions such as mounting an aggressive response or fleeing the threat. Fear ...
or shaming and humiliating others. Some people with this disorder will not abuse others, but will instead display a preoccupation with violence. This disorder was thought to be caused by childhood trauma
Childhood trauma is often described as serious adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Children may go through a range of experiences that classify as psychological trauma; these might include neglect, abandonment, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, an ...
or being raised in by a family where one spouse is abused. Sadistic personality disorder was considered more common in men than women.
Comorbidity with other personality disorders
Sadistic personality disorder was thought to have been frequently comorbid with other personality disorders, primarily other types of psychopathological
Psychopathology is the study of abnormal cognition, behaviour, and experiences which differs according to social norms and rests upon a number of constructs that are deemed to be the social norm at any particular era.
Biological psychopathol ...
disorders. In contrast, sadism has also been found in patients who do not display any or other forms of psychopath
Psychopathy, sometimes considered synonymous with sociopathy, is characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egotistical traits. Different conceptions of psychopathy have been ...
ic disorders. Conduct disorder
Conduct disorder (CD) is a mental disorder diagnosed in childhood or adolescence that presents itself through a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that includes theft, lies, physical violence that may lead to destruction, and reckles ...
in childhood, and Alcohol use disorder were thought to have been frequently comorbid with Sadistic personality disorder. Researchers had difficulty distinguishing sadistic personality disorder from the other personality disorders due to its high levels of comorbidity with other disorders.
Diagnostic criteria
According to the DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria Sadistic personality disorder is defined by a pervasive pattern of sadistic and cruel behavior that begins in early adulthood. It was defined by four of the following.
* Has used physical cruelty or violence for the purpose of establishing dominance in a relationship (not merely to achieve some noninterpersonal goal, such as striking someone in order to rob him/her).
* Humiliates or demeans people in the presence of others.
* Has treated or disciplined someone under his/her control unusually harshly.
* Is amused by, or takes pleasure in, the psychological or physical suffering of others (including animals).
* Has lied for the purpose of harming or inflicting pain on others (not merely to achieve some other goal).
* Gets other people to do what he/she wants by frightening them (through intimidation or even terror).
* Restricts the autonomy of people with whom he or she has a close relationship, e.g., will not let spouse leave the house unaccompanied or permit teenage daughter to attend social functions.
* Is fascinated by violence, weapons, injury, or torture.
This behavior must not be better explained by sexual sadism disorder
Sexual sadism disorder is the condition of experiencing sexual arousal in response to the extreme pain, suffering or humiliation of others. Several other terms have been used to describe the condition, and the condition may overlap with other co ...
and it must be directed towards more than one person.
Differential diagnosis
Millon's subtypes
Theodore Millon
Theodore Millon () (August 18, 1928 – January 29, 2014) was an American psychologist known for his work on personality disorders. He founded the ''Journal of Personality Disorders'' and was the inaugural president of the International Society ...
claimed there were four subtypes of sadism, which he termed ''enforcing sadism'', ''explosive sadism'', ''spineless sadism'', and ''tyrannical sadism''.
History
Sadistic personality disorder was developed as forensic psychiatrists had noticed many patients with sadistic behavior. It was introduced to the DSM in 1987 and it was placed in the DSM-III-R as a way to facilitate further systematic clinical study and research.[Oxford Textbook of Psychopathology, p. 744] It was removed from the DSM for numerous reasons. Sadistic personality disorder also shared a high rate of comorbidity with other disorders, implying that it was not a distinct disorder on its own. Millon writes that "Physically abusive, sadistic personalities are most often male, and it was felt that any such diagnosis might have the paradoxical effect of legally excusing cruel behavior."[ Personality Disorders in Modern Life 2nd Ed. p.512.] Researchers were also concerned about the stigmatizing nature of the disorder, and that it put patients at higher risk of abuse from prison guards. Theorists like Theodore Millon wanted to generate further study on SPD, and so proposed it to the DSM-IV Personality Disorder Work Group, who rejected it.[Disorders of Personality: DSM-IV and Beyond, p. 482]
Sub-clinical sadism in personality psychology
There is renewed interest in studying sadism as a personality trait
In psychology, trait theory (also called dispositional theory) is an approach to the study of human personality. Trait theorists are primarily interested in the measurement of ''traits'', which can be defined as habitual patterns of behaviour, tho ...
. Sadism joins with subclinical psychopathy
Psychopathy, sometimes considered synonymous with sociopathy, is characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egotistical traits. Different conceptions of psychopathy have bee ...
, narcissism
Narcissism is a self-centered personality style characterized as having an excessive interest in one's physical appearance or image and an excessive preoccupation with one's own needs, often at the expense of others.
Narcissism exists on a co ...
, and Machiavellianism
Machiavellianism or Machiavellian may refer to:
Politics
*Machiavellianism (politics), the supposed political philosophy of Niccolò Machiavelli
*Political realism
Psychology
*Machiavellianism (psychology), a personality trait centered on cold an ...
to form the so-called "dark tetrad
The dark triad is a psychological theory of personality, first published by Delroy L. Paulhus and Kevin M. Williams in 2002, that describes three notably offensive, but non-pathological personality types: Machiavellianism, sub-clinical narcissism, ...
" of personality.
See also
* Antisocial personality disorder, a personality disorder characterized by a long term pattern of disregard for, or violation of, the rights of others
* Bullying
* ''Evil Genes
''Evil Genes'' is a book by Barbara Oakley, a systems engineering, systems engineer, about the neurology, neurological and social factors contributing to chronic antisocial behavior. The text was published on October 31, 2007, by Prometheus Books ...
''
* Malignant narcissism
Malignant narcissism is a psychological syndrome comprising an extreme mix of narcissism, antisocial behavior, aggression, and sadism. Grandiose, and always ready to raise hostility levels, the malignant narcissist undermines families and organiz ...
* Psychopathy
Psychopathy, sometimes considered synonymous with sociopathy, is characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egotistical traits. Different conceptions of psychopathy have bee ...
* Sadism and masochism
Sadomasochism ( ) is the giving and receiving of pleasure from acts involving the receipt or infliction of pain or humiliation. Practitioners of sadomasochism may seek sexual pleasure from their acts. While the terms sadist and masochist refer ...
* Schadenfreude
* Self-defeating personality disorder
Self-defeating personality disorder (also known as masochistic personality disorder) was a proposed personality disorder. As a descriptor for ''Other personality disorder'' it was mentioned in the DSM-III in 1980. It was discussed in an appendi ...
(masochistic personality disorder)
* Sexual sadism disorder
Sexual sadism disorder is the condition of experiencing sexual arousal in response to the extreme pain, suffering or humiliation of others. Several other terms have been used to describe the condition, and the condition may overlap with other co ...
* Zoosadism
Zoosadism is pleasure derived from cruelty to animals. It is part of the Macdonald triad, a set of three behaviors that are considered a precursor to psychopathic behavior.
Research
Some studies have suggested that individuals who are cruel t ...
References
*Blaney, P. H., Millon, T. (2009). Oxford Textbook of Psychopathology. New York: Oxford University Press.
*Davis, R., Millon, T. (2000). Personality Disorders in Modern Life. Canada: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
*Livesley, J. (1995)
The DSM-IV Personality Disorders
New York, NY: Guilford Press.
*Million, T. (1996). Disorders of Personality DSM-IV and Beyond. New York: Wiley-Interscience Publication.
*
*Pacana, G. (2011, March 2). Sadists and sadistic personality disorder.
*
External links
provides some theoretical descriptions of the sadistic personality, which, in addition to being a "white man", were traits concluded by the author to describe the D.C. sniper attacks
The D.C. sniper attacks (also known as the Beltway sniper attacks) were a series of coordinated shootings that occurred during three weeks in October 2002 throughout the Washington metropolitan area, consisting of the District of Columbia, Mary ...
shooter.
{{Psychopathy
Criminology
Forensic psychology
Violence
Obsolete terms for mental disorders