flagellation

Watching Federer play tennis is still a religious experience, in the self-flagellation sort of way.
Roger Federer’s U.S. Open Defeat Was Bad, but He’s Not Dead Yet|Sujay Kumar|September 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
When you've had your worst week of the campaign, to submit yourself to two or three more days of flagellation?
You Know You've Had a Bad Week When...|Michael Tomasky|September 21, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In other words, this is how apologies should happen—with some level of genuine-seeming self-flagellation.
Hey Daniel Tosh—No One Believes Your Lame Twitter Apology|Jesse Singal|July 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST
When Meredith finally kicks Walter out, he resorts to self-flagellation before attempting to commit suicide.
Imaginary Friends in Movies|Marlow Stern|May 5, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Seeing it gave me the same feeling of unease and repulsion I had whenever witnessing self-flagellation.
The Hip Hop Inauguration|Stanley Crouch|December 19, 2008|DAILY BEAST
Take him in repose, and he looked a lank ascetic who dreamed of a happy land where flagellation was a joy and pain a panacea.
You Never Know Your Luck, Complete|Gilbert Parker
In the English erotic literature, it is remarkable how often and how fully the flagellation of children is described.
The Sexual Life of the Child|Albert Moll
He distinguished himself by his deification of the Virgin and his devotion to flagellation.
Curiosities of Christian History|Croake James
Can flagellation, fasting, Nor fervent prayer itself, not cleanse my soul From its fond doting on her comeliness?
The Scarlet Stigma|James Edgar Smith
If they happen to meet with a ne plus ultra, abuse them, and send them back; if they grumble, flagellation is necessary.
The Academy Keeper|Anonymous

Medical definitions for flagellation

flagellation

[ flăj′ə-lā′shən ]

Whipping oneself or another as a means of arousing or heightening sexual feeling.

The flagellar arrangement on an organism.