Newby...

If you look at different psychology sources, a large percentage do claim that interest in this lifestyle is due to abuse. Personally I don't think abuse has anything to do with my decision to enjoy a D/s relationship. I have heard it all... "you want a father figure since you were raised by only a mom," "there was sexual abuse in your family and this is your way of coping," etc. Actually, the sexual abuse never really happened to me (thank you, Mom!) and I am a stronger person and feel I am better able to submit because of the hidden strength my mom always had to have as a single parent. That fact also helped me to take the steps to move forward in learning about D/s, etc. and not just keep it tucked away as a "forbidden" item and keeping myself miserable.

So... long winded way of saying... that is what "they" believe... but what they "believe", what they "know" and what is "reality" (my reality) are completely different things!