Back then, as now, disgusting things kept our attention and could even provide us with enjoyment. The play “Titus Andronicus” is one example of how people living in the Elizabethan era were encouraged to view repulsing objects even though they might have wanted to look away. But the public watching Shakespeare’s plays voluntarily learned to embrace the disturbing nature of it, just like the modern individuals who view revolting images online or wait for the latest “Scream” movie to premiere.
However, Spelman warns that while engaging in benign masochistic behaviors can have some benefits, there are potential risks and negative consequences.
“If not kept in balance, these behaviors can escalate, leading to a desensitization to disturbing content, which might require increasingly extreme experiences to achieve the same emotional effect. There’s also a risk of normalizing or becoming insensitive to real-world violence and suffering.
Additionally, if these behaviors are used as a primary coping mechanism, they might prevent individuals from developing healthier emotional processing and coping strategies. It’s important for individuals to monitor their engagement with such content and ensure it doesn’t interfere with their emotional well-being or social functioning.”
