Definition proposed in DSM III-R for further review<unk>  is: :A) A pervasive pattern of<unk><unk>  behavior, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts. The person may often avoid or undermine pleasurable experiences, be drawn to situations or relationships in which they will suffer, and prevent others from helping them, as indicated by at least five of the following: :# chooses people and situations that lead to disappointment, failure, or mistreatment even when better options are clearly available :# rejects or makes ineffective the attempts of others to help them :# following positive personal events (e.g., new achievement), responds with depression, guilt, or a behavior that produces pain (e.g., an accident) :# incites angry or rejecting responses from others and then feels hurt, defeated, or humiliated (e.g., makes fun of spouse in public, provoking an angry retort, then feels devastated) :# rejects opportunities for pleasure, or is reluctant to acknowledge enjoying themselves (despite having adequate social skills and the capacity for pleasure) :# fails to accomplish tasks crucial to their personal objectives despite having demonstrated ability to do so (e.g., helps fellow students write papers, but is unable to write their own) :# is uninterested in or rejects people who consistently treat them well :# engages in excessive<unk> -sacrifice that is unsolicited by the intended recipients of the sacrifice :# The person may often avoid or undermine pleasurable experiences ... and rejects opportunities for pleasure, or is reluctant to acknowledge enjoying themself :B) The behaviors in A do not occur exclusively in response to, or in anticipation of, being physically, sexually, or psychologically abused. :C) The behaviors in A do not occur only when the person is depressed. Exclusion from DSM-IV Historically, masochism has been associated with feminine submissiveness. This disorder became politically controversial when associated with domestic violence which was considered to be mostly caused by males. However a number of studies suggest that the disorder is common. In spite of its exclusion from DSM-IV in 1994, it continues to enjoy widespread currency amongst clinicians as a construct that explains a great many facets of human behaviour. Sexual masochism that "causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning" is still in DSM-IV. Millon's subtypes Theodore Millon has proposed four subtypes of masochist. Any individual masochist may fit into none, one or more of the following subtypes: Subtype Description Personality traits Virtuous masochist Including histrionic features Proudly unselfish,<unk> -denying, and<unk> -sacrificial;<unk> -ascetic; weighty burdens are judged noble, righteous, and saintly; others must recognize loyalty and faithfulness; gratitude and appreciation expected for altruism and forbearance. Possessive masochist Including negativistic features Bewitches and ensnares by becoming jealous, overprotective, and indispensable; entraps, takes control, conquers, enslaves, and dominates others by being sacrificial to a fault; control by obligatory dependence.<unk> -undoing masochist Including avoidant features Is "wrecked by success"; experiences "victory through defeat"; gratified by personal misfortunes, failures, humiliations, and ordeals; eschews best interests; chooses to be victimized, ruined, disgraced. Oppressed masochist Including depressive features Experiences genuine misery, despair, hardship, anguish, torment, illness; grievances used to create guilt in others; resentments vented by exempting from responsibilities and burdening "oppressors".
Self-defeating personality disorder
Cluster B personality disorders
Haltlose personality disorder
Immature personality disorder
Histrionic personality disorder
Sadistic personality disorder
Dependent personality disorder
Obsessive–compulsive personality disorder