100% not that simple!
Let's dig this...
Cuckolding can take two forms, perceived as either negative or positive. The general view of cuckolding is often seen through the lens of submission/humiliation, which represents the negative side.
Note: The negative/positive appreciation is subjective and can be discussed, but that will not be the focus here.
To better understand the concept, we need to break down some of the psychological aspects that drive this kink:
The negative perspective generally relies on psychological dynamics linked to concepts of loss of control, comparison, and reversal of traditional roles. For example:
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Deprivation and loss of status: The idea that one’s partner finds pleasure with someone else creates a situation where the submissive man feels “inferior” or “replaced,” which can be exciting for some.
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Sexual comparison: Some cuckolding fantasies include the idea that the lover is “better” sexually, whether in terms of performance, size, or endurance. This feeling of inferiority can be a source of excitement.
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Consensual humiliation: Being “dominated” psychologically by one’s partner and the lover can trigger pleasure for those who enjoy power games and controlled humiliation.
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Voyeurism and controlled frustration: Seeing one’s partner with another without being able to participate actively engages frustration mechanisms, which can enhance desire and excitement.
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Psychological masochism: Some find pleasure in experiencing negative emotions like jealousy or humiliation, in a controlled environment where they paradoxically derive pleasure from them.
The key point here lies in the dynamic of power and control, where submission and humiliation play a central role.
The positive perspective, on the other hand, is based on shared pleasure, driven by factors such as:
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Compersion: The pleasure experienced by seeing one’s partner happy or satisfied, a concept often associated with open and polyamorous relationships.
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Indirect pleasure: Some feel desire knowing their partner is having an intense experience, even without participating directly.
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Amplification of desire: Seeing one’s partner desired by someone else can strengthen attraction and desire in the relationship.
The key point here is shared pleasure.
This second approach, while sometimes linked to a “lighter” form of cuckolding, is more aligned with the psychological dynamics of
swinging.
It should be noted that, in any case, all extended relationships (three or more people) inherently contain some component of cuckolding, whether negative or positive.
Once we understand these two analytical perspectives, at this stage of development, it cannot be said that Eric is 100% cuckold.
His relationship with Vi leans more towards the positive view than the negative one.
He doesn’t feel inferior, he doesn’t need to compare himself, he is not psychologically dominated (quite the opposite), he is a voyeur, he is not frustrated, he is neither jealous nor humiliated.
However, the idea that Vi might enjoy herself with someone else excites him (though we’re not quite there yet), he derives indirect pleasure, and his pleasure is amplified by the desire that Vi generates in others.
In short, we have a loving and close couple in a form of sexual perversion (from a normative point of view) that leans more towards swinging combined with voyeurism/exhibitionism.
My two cents...