Erotic humiliation

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Erotic humiliation or sexual humiliation is the act of performing consensual psychological humiliation, in order to produce erotic excitement or sexual arousal.^[1] This can be for the person(s) being humiliated and demeaned, the person(s) humiliating them, or both. It is sometimes done before spectators, which includes performances of erotic humiliation both in person and through pornography and webcam modeling. It may be part of BDSM and other sexual roleplay, and may be accompanied by the sexual stimulation of the genitals (or other erogenous zones) of one or both parties in the activity.

Humiliation is a highly subjective issue, and is dependent on context. Despite being carried out for erotic purposes, it is not necessary for erotic humiliation to be sexual in nature; as is the case with many other sexual activities, it is the feelings obtained from the experience that are desired, and that result in the arousal of those engaging in the practice, regardless of the nature of the actual activity. Humiliation is psychological. It most often involves or engenders feelings of submission for the recipient(s) of the humiliation, and dominance for the individual(s) administering it.

Erotic humiliation can be done verbally, physically, or both, and can be either private or public. Some individuals assume an acting role and others prefer to be spoken to in a degrading way. A common technique used to allow the submissive, also referred to as (but not to be conflated with) a bottom, to enter a state of mind of complete submission is to humiliate them while providing them with sexual stimulation. Select individuals who desire this form of humiliation also use it to acquire emotional release. Humiliation can become ritualized, and unlike some sexual variations, it can also be carried out easily over a long distance (for instance over the internet).

While fantasy and fascination with erotic humiliation is a prevalent part of BDSM and other sexual roleplay practices, relatively little has been written on it.^[2] Humiliation play can, however, be taken to a point where it becomes emotionally or psychologically distressing to those involved, especially if it is public humiliation. Erotic humiliation can become extreme enough to be considered a form of edgeplay, which some consider may best be approached with advance negotiation and the use of a safeword.