BDSM is various typically erotic techniques or roleplaying involving bondage, willpower, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, as well as other connected interpersonal dynamics. Provided the wide selection of methods, a few of which may be engaged in by individuals who don't think about themselves to be practising BDSM, inclusion in the BDSM Group or subculture normally is claimed to depend upon self-identification and shared knowledge.

The initialism BDSM is very first recorded within a Usenet publish from 1991, and is interpreted as a mix of the abbreviations B/D (Bondage and Self-control), D/s (Dominance and submission), and S/M (Sadism and Masochism). BDSM is currently utilized as a capture-all phrase covering a wide range of things to do, sorts of interpersonal relationships, and distinctive subcultures. BDSM communities commonly welcome any person having a non-normative streak who identifies While using the Local community; this will include cross-dressers, overall body modification fanatics, animal roleplayers, rubber fetishists, and others.

Functions and relationships in BDSM are often characterised by the members' taking on roles which have been complementary and include inequality of power; As a result, the idea of knowledgeable consent of both the companions is essential. The phrases submissive and dominant are often utilised to differentiate these roles: the dominant associate ("dom") usually takes psychological Handle around the submissive ("sub"). The terms top rated and bottom will also be made use of; the very best could be the instigator of an action when The underside may be the receiver with the motion. The two sets of phrases are subtly unique: for instance, an individual may perhaps decide to act as base to a different person, as an example, by staying whipped, purely recreationally, with none implication of becoming psychologically dominated, and submissives could be purchased to therapeutic massage their dominant associates. Although the bottom carries out the action and the very best receives it, they have got not essentially switched roles.

The abbreviations sub and dom are frequently utilized as opposed to submissive and dominant. From time to time the feminine-unique terms mistress, domme, and dominatrix are utilized to describe a dominant woman, as opposed to the often gender-neutral expression dom. People who transform concerning major/dominant and base/submissive roles—whether or not from partnership to connection or in a provided romantic relationship—are named switches. The exact definition of roles and self-identification is a typical matter of debate amongst BDSM participants.