Manifest sadomasochism of males: results of an empirical study.

Two hundred forty-five manifestly sadomasochistic West German completed an anonymous questionnaires concerning their sexual behavior and psychosocial problems. They were reached as placers of sadomasochistic contact advertisements or as members of sadomasochistic clubs. Thirty percent were exclusively heterosexually oriented, 31% bisexually oriented, and 38% homosexually oriented. Results are described with respect to the invisibility of deviant behavior, seeking of partners, participation in the subculture, realization of the deviant desires, self-acceptance, preferences for sadomasochistic roles and practices, masturbation, and coming out. The possibilities for realization of the deviance are poorer for heterosexual sadomasochists than for the other groups. However, subcultural groups exist among heterosexual sadomasochists.