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![Page 1: Theories and Data: Measurable Changes in Body and Mind during SM Ellen Lee James Ambler Northern Illinois University.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56649ddd5503460f94ad5c4d/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Theories and Data: Measurable Changes in Body and Mind
during SM
Ellen LeeJames Ambler
Northern Illinois University
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Goals and Overview
• Academic views of SM• Our data collection and
results• Theories • Future directions• Questions!
• Bridge Academia and SM
• Share findings• Inform future directions
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Historical Perspective• Sadism is pathological in nature• Masochism is inwardly directed Sadism
-Thus, all SM activities are the behaviors of damaged individuals
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ConsensualSM
PathologicalSM
Historical Perspective• Sadism is pathological in nature• Masochism is inwardly directed Sadism
-Thus, all SM activities are the behaviors of damaged individuals
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Connolly’s (2006): Psychological Functioning of BDSM Practitioners
• 132 respondents
• 56 women, 73 men, 3 transgendered individuals
• Ages 25-74
• Recruited in Southern California via e-mail through BDSM clubs and organizations
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• Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2, 567 items)
• Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III, 175 items)
• Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI, 100 items)• Postraumatic Stress Disorder Scale (PDS, 49 items)• Multiscale Dissociation Inventory (MDI, 30 items)• Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II, 21 items)• Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI, 21 items)
Connolly’s (2006): Psychological Functioning of BDSM Practitioners
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DepressionAnxiety
Obsessive-compulsionPTSD
DissociationPsychological sadism
Psychological masochismNarcissism
Borderline pathologyParanoia
Psychoanalytic theorizing
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BDSM practitioners vs. normative samples
BDSM practitioners lower than normative samples
BDSM practitioners not statistically different
BDSM practitioners higher than normative samples
Depression Obsessive-compulsion Dissociation
Anxiety Narcissism
PTSD
Psychological sadism
Psychological masochism
Borderline pathology
Paranoia
Out of body experiences
Missing one’s freeway exit because one’s mind is elsewhere
Ego self-involvement
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Damon 2002Prediction:
Dominant men would have lower self-esteem than submissive men
Dominant men would have higher rates of sexism than submissive men
Findings: Dominant men displayed higher self-esteem than
submissive men Dominant men had lower rates of sexism than
submissive men
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ConsensualSM
PathologicalSM
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ConsensualSM
PathologicalSM
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PathologicalSM
ConsensualSM
EmpathySelf-RegulationSocial NormsSocial Bonds
Anticipated GuiltRationality
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Hypothesis Testing• Hypothesis testing is used to determine the likelihood of
there being group differences• A p value represents the chance, given that the null
hypothesis is true, that you would obtain these results or results more extreme– For example, a p = .03 means that 3% of the time, when there
are no group differences, we would obtain these results or results more extreme
– Another way of looking at this, when there are no group differences, 97% of the time we wouldn’t obtain results this extreme
– In psychology, we use a 5% cut-off (p = .05); this number is arbitrary but represents what we consider to be acceptable risk
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Correlation Coefficient• The relationship between two standard
variables– They range from -1 to +1
-1=negative relationship 0=no relationship
+1=positive relationship– Indicates a strength of a relationship (larger
number indicates stronger relationship)– Just because there is a correlation between two
variables does not mean that one causes the other• For example, the positive relationship between shark
attacks and ice cream sales
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Types of Correlations
Perfect positivecorrelation (+1.00)
Perfect negativecorrelation (-1.00)
No relationship (0.00)
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Thunder in the Mountains
• Hormonal changes before, during, and after scenes – Testosterone – Cortisol
• Relationship closeness• Scene success
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Testosterone
0102030405060708090
100
Baseline 10 min before scene
Tes
tost
eron
e (p
g/m
l)
Tops
Bottoms
Sagarin et al. (2009)
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Cortisol
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
Baseline 20 min afterscene
40 min afterscene
Cor
tiso
l (ug
/dl)
Tops
Bottoms
Sagarin et al. (2009)
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Relationship closeness
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Baseline After sceneTo
wha
t ex
tent
wou
ld y
ou u
se t
he w
ord
"we"
to
desc
ribe
you
r re
lati
onsh
ip?
Scene went poorly
Scene went well
Sagarin et al. (2009)
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Southwest Leather Conference
• SM without sex?
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Materials• Surveys (before, during, after)
– PANAS– Self/Other Overlap– We Relationship– Open-ended questions
• Why participate• Expectations of Dance
• Saliva Samples• Behavioral observations
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Participant Demographics• Gender
– Males: 20, Females: 26, Transgender: 3• Sexual Orientation
– Straight: 15, Gay: 8, Heteroflexible: 9, Bisexual: 9, Other: 8
• BDSM Roles– Top: 18, Bottom: 16, Switch: 14
• Age– Mean: 49 years old, SD: 10.34 years– Range: 23-71 years old
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Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation
Straight Gay Heteroflex Bisexual Other0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
TransgenderFemaleMale
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Sexual Orientation and BDSM Roles
Straight Gay Heteroflex Bisexual Other0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
SwitchBottomTop
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Sexual vs. SM
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
How SexualHow SM
p =.09
Not at all
Extremely
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Sexual vs. SM vs. Spiritual
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
How SexualHow SMHow Spiritual
p =.01Extremely
Not at all
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Correlations – Sexual, SM, Spiritual
• Spiritual– And pre self/other overlap = .527 (p = .01)– And during self/other overlap = .423 ( p = .007)
• Sexual– And pre sexual arousal = .487 (p = .016)– And during sexual arousal = .758 (p = .001)
• SM– And pre sexual arousal = .647 (p = .001)– And during sexual arousal = .342 (p = .031)
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Sexual Arousal
Before Dance During Dance1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
Sexual Arousal
p <.001
Extremely
Not at all
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Self/Other Overlap, Relationship with Others
"We" Relationship Self/Other Overlap1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Before DanceDuring Dance
p = .85
p = .005
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PANAS
Positive Affect Negative Affect10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Pre-DanceDuring-Dance
p = .175
p = .014
Extremely
Not at all
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Stressed
Pre-Dance During-Dance1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
Stressed
p = .14
Extremely
Not at all
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Cortisol
Time 1 Time 20
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
0.4
0.45
0.5
Cortisol
p = .064
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SM Role x Sexual
Top Bottom Switch1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
How sexual was the Dance?
p = .036 p = .046
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SM Role x Spiritual
Top Bottom Switch1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
How spiritual was the Dance?
p = .031
p = .057
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Pre-Dance Qualitative Data
• Why are you participating in the Dance of Souls? What do you hope to get from the experience?– “It is a wonderful way to exchange energy not just with my
owner but with my tribe. It is transcendental & amazing. It is also a great way to release the negative.”
– “I find peace, power, and well-being at these events.”– “To participate in high energetic levels and feel the
transformation that can occur in myself and others.”– “I have had visions and deep spiritual experiences. Or not.
But it's fun anyway.”
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During-Dance Qualitative Data
• Any current thoughts or feelings during the Dance– “I am in an amazing happy place. Serene yet joyous.”– “Connection through the drums and the tribe and the
shared energy that overrides any pain and opens my heart and mind to a focus beyond the physical.”
– “Just very high!!!” – “Pleasantly exhausted”– “I'm very happy and aroused. I feel strong and
beautiful.”
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Post-Dance Qualitative Data
• Please write down any thoughts or feelings:– “All throughout the dance, I felt very present and connected
with everyone else there, but also recognized the work I was doing was my own work and needed my attention. I also felt closer to the spirits of those who have walked this earth before us and the Universe's energy abuzz inside me. It was beautiful and powerful.”
– “Observed energetic releases of others, saw emotions stir in many; tears, anger, screaming, laughter, pure joy. Many had variety of different experiences. I got to share in all of them, and feel their release.”
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Spirit
uality
Connected
Altered co
nsciousn
ess
Positive
affect
Release
Transfo
rmEnergy
To learn
Celebration
To serve
To grow
Negative
affect
Unmet exp
ectations
Generalize
d affect
Met e
xpecta
tions
Sexu
ality
Futu
re expecta
tions
29
2321
17 16 15 1412 12
8 7 64 3 3 2 2
Frequency of Qualitative Data Codes
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Major Conclusions
• Mainly spiritual, less sexual or SM• Increase in connectedness to others• Reduction in negative affect• Higher body stress response, but reported
reduction in psychological stress
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Spirit
uality
Connected
Altered co
nsciousn
ess
Positive
affect
Release
Transfo
rmEnergy
To learn
Celebration
To serve
To grow
Negative
affect
Unmet exp
ectations
Generalize
d affect
Met e
xpecta
tions
Sexu
ality
Futu
re expecta
tions
29
2321
17 16 15 1412 12
8 7 64 3 3 2 2
Why is this happening?
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Why?
• Community• Intimate relationships• Subjectively enjoyable• Altered States
– Domspace– Subspace
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Flow
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Conditions Under Which Flow Happens
1. Engagement in activity chosen for its own sake (not necessary but a facilitative condition)
2. Perceived challenges are high while skill level is also high
3. Clear goals that are regarded important
4. Immediate feedback indicating success at task
5. Highly focused attention
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Characteristics of Flow State
1. Intense concentration on task
2. Deep sense of involvement and merging of action and awareness
3. Sense of control over one’s actions
4. Enjoyment in activity
5. Distorted sense of time
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Subspace“With my girl, she was punishing me, and I felt a deep sense of pain
and pleasure, sort of a one with nature and my environment, it was incredible.”
“It’s very dreamlike. I knew that I felt good, and I was aware of my partner, but I was not paying attention to anything else.”
“I felt intense pleasure and pain, I almost felt like I was flying and for a moment I thought I would pass out. I felt like I was separating from my own body.”
“An almost trance like state. Pain didn’t exist in any form.”
“While bottoming with my partner, I was able to let go to the point of losing touch with reality while my partner spanked me.”
“While being dominated I stepped back inside myself. After getting the rush from playing I lost track of what was going on, nothing seemed to affect me while I was down inside myself.”
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Transient Hypofrontality States-Runner’s High -Meditation -Dreaming -Day dreaming -Hypnosis -Various Drug Highs
Subjective experience• time distortions• changes in focused
attention• reduction of pain• feelings of floating• feelings of peacefulness• little consistent logic• difficulty with memory• feeling of living in the
here and now• little active decision
making
Transient Hypofrontality Hypothesis
Dietrich (2003)
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Limited Resources
• “The human brain has limited resources”• Specific structures receive more blood flow as other
structures receive less blood flow• “A minimum level of intensity is required to force the
redistribution of resources in the brain.”
Dietrich (2003)
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Consciousness as a Process
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Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DL): • Important for directed attention,
temporal integration, and working memory
Working memory deficits cause:• Less abstract thinking• Less access to memory• Less self-reflective consciousness• Less cognitive flexibility
These lead to subjective changes in consciousness
Transient Hypofrontality Hypothesis
Dietrich (2003)
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• Motivational; the self is sometimes burdensome
• BDSM play• Pain• Bondage• Humiliation• Sex as a reinforcer
• “Pain gradually obliterates psychological content, eventually leaving only the awareness of pain. One’s knowledge of the world is temporarily forgotten, and attention is narrowed to the immediate present, both spatially and temporally.” (Scarry, 1985)
• Pain, interrupted action and failure feedback focus people’s attention
Escape from the Self
Baumeister (1988)Vallacher & Wegner (1987, 1989)
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• Technique• fMRI• Cognitive tests
• Timing & Intensity• Runner’s high• Distance in time
Challenges & Feedback
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The Stroop Test
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Measuring Transient Hypofrontality
•Benefits•No practice effects•Very accessible•Take home
•Smartphone apps
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Tentative Support?• Transient Hypofrontality
– Feelings of oneness with others, with the universe– Feelings of transcendence– Feelings of peacefulness– Spirituality, connectedness, altered consciousness– Rating the Dance as more spiritual than sexual or SM– Increase in ratings of self/other overlap
• Escape from Self– Reduction in negative affect– Increase in physiological stress, decrease in psychological
stress
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Correlation does not imply causation!
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Next Steps
• Problems?– These studies were not direct tests of these
theories• We can only interpret results cautiously
– N size– The context and framing elements of the
conference may influence the way participants perceived the Dance
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APEX Switch Study
• An experiment to test the causal effects of topping and bottoming
• Recruited switches were randomly assigned to the top or bottom role
• With generous support from:
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Participants
• 14 participants, 10 women, 4 men
• Mean age= 40.86, SD=12.46, Range: 23-64
• Sexual Orientation– 1 gay/lesbian– 10 bisexual/pansexual – 3 heterosexual
• Race – All participants were Caucasian
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Participants
• BDSM experience (years)– M=6.86, SD= 5.07, Range: 1-17
• BDSM experience (# scenes)– M=386.65, SD= 510.67, Range: 18-1500
• Experience with study partner (# scenes)– M= 39.64, SD= 79.73, Range: 0-250
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Procedure
• Informed consent• Baseline measures• Role assignment• Pre-scene measures
Scene Post-scene measures
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How well did the scene go?
Top Bottom1
2
3
4
5
6
7
How well did the scene go?Very Well
Very Poorly
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Open-ended thoughts
• “It went better than I expected since it was random I did not know how well it would go.”
• “It was fun and since I had never played with (#6) before it was nice the variety and different style.”
• “Incredibly sensual and sexually charged, less about pain than sensuality and sensation.”
• “He got my masochist to come out then fed her pain. I liked it.”
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Impact of observation
Top Bottom1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Impact of ObservationVery strongly affected
Not at all affected
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Self-other overlap
Baseline Post-scene1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Tops and bottoms
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How intense was tonight’s scene?
Top Bottom1
2
3
4
5
6
7
How intense
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What activities were most intense?
• “the connection between us.” • “heavy flogging at end.”• “Being bitten on the tender sides of my
stomach and ribs.”• “Biting the spot where her heart chakra is.” • “no one thing. It all added up to a very
intense/gratifying scene.”
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Sexual, Spiritual, SM
Top Bottom1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
SexualSpiritualSM
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What activities were sexual?
• “Watching my partner as I brought her to orgasm!”
• “the sounds she made, the element of control” • “Being bitten on the nape of the neck and having
full body contact. There was also full chakra contact that was sexual in the energy exchanged.”
• “using toys on my partner's breasts and genitals.”
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What activities were spiritual?
• “The connection between us.”• “the music drums/beat”• “laughter”
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What activities were sadomasochistic?
• “Some intense cane strokes” • “It was an impact/sensation scene. The bristle
brush on the nipples and clit and caning.” • “paddles and floggers used hard” • “Being bitten and scratched.” • “Spanking”
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Testosterone by role
Baseline Pre-Scene Post-Scene 1 Post-Scene 2 Post-Scene 30
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
TopsBottoms
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Cortisol by role
Baseline Pre-Scene Post-Scene 1
Post-Scene 2
Post-Scene 3
0
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.1
0.12
0.14
0.16
0.18
0.2
TopsBottoms
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Psychological Stress
Baseline Pre-scene End of scene Post-scene1
2
3
4
5
TopsBottoms
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Sexual arousal
Baseline Pre-scene End of scene Post-scene1
2
3
4
5
TopsBottoms
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Positive affect(excited, determined, attentive, …)
Baseline Pre-scene End of scene Post-scene20
30
40
50
TopsBottoms
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Negative affect(distressed, irritable, nervous, …)
Baseline Pre-scene End of scene Post-scene10
20
30
40
TopsBottoms
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Altered states (Stroop)
Baseline Pre-scene Post-scene0
100
200
300
400
500
600
TopsBottoms
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• 36 items (1-5 plus “not applicable” option)
• “I was challenged, but I believed my skills would allow me to meet the challenge”
• “I did things correctly without thinking about trying to do so”
• “Time seemed to alter (either slowed down or speeded up)”
• “I really enjoyed the experience of what I was doing”
Altered states (flow)
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Altered states (flow)
Top Bottom1
2
3
4
5
Flow
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Altered states (flow)
Top Bottom1
2
3
4
5
Flow
Yoga: 3.85
Sports: 3.68
Exercise: 3.88
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Conclusions
• SM activities– Increases intimacy– Decrease stress and negative affect– Increases then decreases positive affect– Isn’t always sexual– Facilitates flow– Inhibits working memory in bottoms
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Future Directions
• Leather Levi Weekend – Hook pull in a different context– Social norms about sexual activity
• Effect of psychological stress on sexual activity within intimate relationships– Tension vs. depletion – Difference between BDSM and non-BDSM
practitioners
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Thank you!
• Ways to get involved: – Research participation– Our email mailing list – Our website: http://www.niu.edu/user/tj0bjs1/bdsm.html
– On FetLife: NIU SM Research Team