Extreme rituals in a BDSM context: the physiological and psychological effects of the 'Dance of Souls'.
Culture, health & sexuality April 1, 2017 Kathryn R Klement, Ellen M Lee, James K Ambler et al. 25 citations
Participation in an extreme BDSM ritual called the 'Dance of Souls'—involving temporary piercings with weights or hooks and dancing to drumming—increases physiological stress, as measured by cortisol levels, while simultaneously decreasing psychological stress and negative affect. Self-reported sexual arousal and feelings of self-other overlap also rose during the event. The 160-person ritual was studied through hormonal assays, behavioral observations, and questionnaires. Dancers reported motivations including spirituality, deepening interpersonal connections, stress reduction, and achieving altered states of consciousness.