Sadism: The Pleasure in the Harm of Others

Definition and intrinsic motivation of sadism

Sadism was later incorporated into the "Dark Triad" (forming the "Tetrad") because of a unique distinguishing characteristic: the enjoyment of cruelty.

While other dark profiles may harm people as a side effect of gaining power or money, the sadist is intrinsically motivated to cause harm.

They find cruelty pleasurable, exciting, and even sexually stimulating.

For a sadist, the suffering of others is not a means to an end, but the end in itself.

They may even prioritize the infliction of emotional or physical pain on others even if it comes at a personal cost to them, which differentiates them from the Machiavellian pragmatist.

The everyday sadist and internet trolls.

Not all sadists are violent criminals; there is the category of "everyday sadists."

These are seemingly functional and normal people who enjoy inflicting small doses of pain in their daily lives.

In the digital environment, this trait frequently manifests itself in the figure of the "troll."

These people post negative, offensive or disruptive comments not because they believe in their opinions, but because they derive pleasure from provoking conflict, annoying and observing the distress of others.

Destructive behaviors in relationships and work

In the physical world, sadists may be attracted to professions that give them authority to exert force or control under a legitimate guise.

In interpersonal relationships, they may reveal trusted secrets just to enjoy the victim's discomfort, or actively work to sabotage a colleague's success or cause their dismissal, simply for the satisfaction of seeing them unhappy.

They may also attempt to ruin others' relationships in order to "sit back and enjoy the drama," operating as agents of chaos whose only incentive is the misery of others.

The victim's interaction and emotional reaction are their "fuel"; therefore, indifference is often the only effective defense.

Summary

The sadist is distinguished by intrinsic enjoyment of cruelty, finding the suffering of others pleasurable and stimulating. For them, inflicting pain is not a means, but the end in itself.

There are "everyday sadists" who operate as internet trolls, provoking conflict just for the fun of it. They enjoy observing the distress of others through offensive or disruptive comments on social networks.

In work and relationships, they may sabotage others' success or reveal secrets to enjoy the discomfort. Their "fuel" is the victim's emotional reaction, so indifference is their antidote.