= Hero	= Villain	= Deity
= Supporting Character		= Clergy
= Based on Real Person		= Scientist
= Real     Person	= Non-Superhero        Lead Character

Newest character in database (24 May 2013):
John's mother

Most recently updated (25 May 2013):
Argus

Number of characters in this sub-list: 20 (out of a total of 30,110 in the database).

Described most simply, a sadist is a person who derives pleasure from inflicting pain, humiliation and punishment on others, while a masochist derives pleasure from receiving pain and punishment. Psychologically speaking, sadism and masochism are generally regarded as part of the same psychological complex, flip sides of the same coin, as it were, rather than unrelated conditions. The term "sadomasochism" is closely related to sadism and masochism, but in some ways may be thought of a subset. "Sadomasochism" generally intended for mutual gratification (often but not always sexual in nature), whereas sadism and masochism generally are based on self-serving cruelty. Neither sadism/masochism nor sadomasochism are traditionally regarded as "religions," and they certainly aren't "organized religions," although there are organized sadomasochism (or S&M, BDSM, etc.) organizations, clubs, groups and "congregations." In a sociological sense, sadism/masochism may be regarded as the "religion" (using the term in its broader sense) of some real people and some fictional characters. That is, sadism/masochism is their primary source of values and socialization, their ultimate concern, primary interest, or central characteristic.