What is a praise kink and do you have one?

Psychology Nov 7, 2022

Who doesn’t like to be praised? Hearing good things about ourselves is a pretty much universal gratifying experience. However, for some people it goes all the way to the fetish side of things.

Believe it or not, praise kink is a thing, and people who subscribe to this fetish, get all hot and bothered when they hear a praise directed at them.

What is a praise kink?

It’s exactly what you’re thinking. For someone with a praise kink, kind words and compliments are sexual triggers. They get off on being praised or receiving verbal approval. But context matters and it plays a big role in eliciting horny feelings. For example, it’s not the same a ‘good girl’ in a formal setting in front of other people, than a ‘good girl’ whispered in the ear while you’re preparing dinner together. That’s a whole different vibe.

Moreover, praising doesn’t always have to be verbal for praise kinksters. A kiss on the forehead or a pat can also be arousing.

How to know if you have a praise kink?

Do you get a bigger kick out of sex when your partner gives you tons of positive verbal feedback? Did your best/hottest intimate moments involve your partner saying complimentary things to you? Do you get butterflies deep down your genitalia when your partner tells you things like “you’re fucking amazing” or “I love the way you moan”?

If the answer to any of these questions was yes, chances are, you might have a praise kink.

How can you tap into someone’s praise kink?

Maybe you do not have a praise kink, but your partner does, in which case you might want to know what to say to feed into their fetish.

Anything your partner or anyone does can be complimented, and if the situation calls for it, a gentle touch or a close physical contact could become sexual with only the proper tone of voice and eye contact.

Remember that the purpose of giving compliments while having sex is to make your partner feel secure, at ease, and seen. Therefore, try to be sincere in your compliments. Half-hearted compliments don’t have the desired outcome. Instead, if you're the one providing the compliment, concentrate on how your significant other makes you feel and what specifically about their behavior does so.

If you need inspiration though, here are a few examples of phrases to get you started.