Quote Originally Posted by Ozme52 View Post
Pain can come from many sources... but my perception is that whatever the source, the reward for the victim is the endorphin rush that accompanies that pain. Think of it as the reason why marathon runners love running. It's called the runner's high and it comes from the pain of running long distances... and they miss it when they don't run.
That's the reward for some. For others, such as my own pet, it's a purely emotional feeling of release and discharge, of catharsis, that leaves them cleared and relaxed. For me, when I sub, it's the fact of my submission being literally hammered home: when I'm following orders I might be doing it to please myself, but when I'm being beaten I know to my bones that I am owned and controlled. And then for some the pain itself is nothing but a horrible ordeal, but they endure it joyfully because it pleases their Owner.

As usual, one size doesn't fit all.