Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of sexual masochism?

Master the DSM-5 Disorders Exam. Study using engaging flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complete with hints and explanations. Prepare confidently for your exam!

The correct choice highlights that engaging in inflicting suffering on others is not a characteristic of sexual masochism. Sexual masochism is defined by the desire to receive pain or humiliation, to experience psychological distress, and to find pleasure in submissive roles. Individuals with this preference derive gratification from being on the receiving end of these experiences rather than administering them.

Masochism involves subjects consenting to pain or humiliation, wherein their focus is on their own experiences of pleasure from those dynamics. On the other hand, the act of inflicting suffering aligns more closely with sexual sadism, where individuals derive pleasure from causing pain or humiliation to others. This distinction is crucial in understanding the dynamics of these particular paraphilic disorders as categorized in the DSM-5.