Dacryphilia (also known as dacrylagnia) is a form of paraphilia in which one is aroused by tears or sobbing.
Contents
The term covers all forms of pleasure from the tears of others. The arousal is achieved when viewing a person in emotional distress. It carries the theme where a person (often a Top in a BDSM relationship) induces another (the bottom) to cry, or otherwise show a strong emotion.
BDSM
Dacryphilia may be a form of humiliation in the 'pain/restriction/servitude/humiliation' spectrum of BDSM; for example, a dominant may verbally abuse the submissive in order to elicit a tearful response. In contrast, a Dominant may instead physically torture the submissive to draw tears in a pain scene. In this way, dacryphilia is a form of sadism. A Sensual Dom or Dominatrix may instead choose to illicit tears by making the Sub feel safe enough to become emotionally vulnerable.
The psychological aspects of dacryphilia are that the causative entity displays the power to control the psychological response from the receiver. This form of power-play therefore brings pleasure, and for some, sexual arousal. Passive dacryphilia involves a third party who also achieves pleasure in watching someone in emotional distress, usually caused by the scening dominant, though the reason does not restrict the pleasure - a person may enjoy the tears of others, whatever the cause.
Non BDSM Dacryphilia
Dacryphilia is not limited to BDSM and may be experienced by those who do not consider themselves a Dom or Sub. They may be turned on when their partner cries during a movie or from the normal emotional vulnerability and strong feelings of love that may make a partner cry during intercourse.
Other usage
Dacryphilia is sometimes used to express the pleasure experienced through one's own tears, often as an emotional release.
A dacryphiliac is someone who gets sexually aroused from watching other people cry.