BDSM is various generally erotic tactics or roleplaying involving bondage, willpower, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, as well as other connected interpersonal dynamics. Provided the wide range of methods, some of which may be engaged in by people who don't think about themselves to be practising BDSM, inclusion during the BDSM Group or subculture generally is claimed to rely on self-identification and shared expertise.

The initialism BDSM is initial recorded in a Usenet post from 1991, and is particularly interpreted as a mix of the abbreviations B/D (Bondage and Self-discipline), D/s (Dominance and submission), and S/M (Sadism and Masochism). BDSM is now made use of for a catch-all phrase covering a variety of pursuits, types of interpersonal relationships, and unique subcultures. BDSM communities typically welcome anyone which has a non-normative streak who identifies Along with the Neighborhood; this may include things like cross-dressers, entire body modification enthusiasts, animal roleplayers, rubber fetishists, and Some others.

Routines and relationships in BDSM in many cases are characterized via the individuals' taking over roles which can be complementary and involve inequality of electricity; Therefore, the thought of informed consent of both equally the partners is vital. The terms submissive and dominant are sometimes utilized to tell apart these roles: the dominant partner ("dom") normally takes psychological control in excess of the submissive ("sub"). The conditions leading and base are also utilised; the best may be the instigator of the motion although The underside is the receiver in the motion. The 2 sets of terms are subtly distinct: such as, somebody may possibly prefer to act as bottom to another man or woman, for example, by getting whipped, purely recreationally, with no implication of remaining psychologically dominated, and submissives might be requested to massage their dominant companions. Even though the base carries out the motion and the best receives it, they've not always switched roles.

The abbreviations sub and dom are usually applied instead of submissive and dominant. At times the female-distinct phrases mistress, domme, and dominatrix are applied to explain a dominant female, in lieu of the sometimes gender-neutral term dom. Individuals who alter among prime/dominant and bottom/submissive roles—no matter if from marriage to marriage or inside of a given relationship—are called switches. The precise definition of roles and self-identification is a standard issue of discussion between BDSM members.