[7] The word sadism is often used in casual senses referring to an enjoyment and willingness to engage in cruel acts.
Psychologists Delroy Paulhus and Donald Dutton have asserted that sadistic behavior is so common throughout history that it can be said that sadism lies deeper in the human condition.
[9] They also assert that research on the personality style was not viable until the creation of new psychometrics, such as the Varieties of Sadistic Tendencies scale.
As expected by the researchers, sadists volunteered to kill bugs at greater rates than did nonsadists.
[11][12][13] Myrthe Meere and Vincent Egan note that subclinical sadism is seen in everyday settings, such as those who are attracted to violence on television or those who like to engage in combat sports.