This aligns with Baumeister’s broader point: humans will sometimes seek out mild, controlled negative experiences (sad movies, spicy foods, rollercoasters) to enhance positive ones. Cuckolding is the sexual equivalent.
Baumeister’s most direct contribution to understanding the psychology behind cuckolding fantasies comes from his , specifically detailed in his book Masochism and the Self .
In cuckolding, the man often:
Baumeister is known for applying economic theory to sexuality, viewing sex as a resource that women possess and men seek access to (detailed in Is There Anything Good About Men? ).
Baumeister’s most directly relevant work is his 1988 paper, “Masochism as Escape from Self” (and later book Masochism and the Self ). He argued that consensual masochistic sexuality (which includes cuckolding) is not about a love of pain, but a .