Is Kink Caused by Trauma? Separating Myth From Science - Episode 285

Trauma and kink have been linked for decades, but does the research actually support the idea that trauma causes people to become kinky?

In this episode, we follow the evidence. We look at where the trauma theory came from, why early psychology was so focused on childhood experiences, how researchers actually study a question this complicated, and what the research has found. We also dig into why finding trauma among kinky people doesn't prove that trauma caused their kink, what larger reviews of BDSM research tell us, and where trauma may fit into someone's individual experience.

The answer isn't a simple yes or no, and that's exactly what makes the science interesting.

Is kink caused by trauma? Let's find out what we actually know.