I. An examination of masochism -- 1 Freud's writings on masochism examined in detail -- 2 Survey of psychological literature (1926 onwards) -- 3 Review of empirical studies on sadomasochism -- 4 An integrated psychodynamic model of masochism -- II. An empirical investigation of sadomasochism -- 5 The Adult Attachment Interview -- 6 The 'emotional' Stroop task -- 7 The Beck Depression Inventory -- 8 Questionnaires concerning chronicity, practice and motivation of sadomasochism -- 9 General discussion and conclusions -- III. The philosophy of sadomasochism and its effects -- 10 The question of control -- Appendices -- References.