BDSM is a number of 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 people that usually do not contemplate on their own to become practising BDSM, inclusion within the BDSM community or subculture normally is alleged to rely upon self-identification and shared practical experience.

The initialism BDSM is initially recorded in the Usenet put up from 1991, and it is interpreted as a combination of the abbreviations B/D (Bondage and Willpower), D/s (Dominance and submission), and S/M (Sadism and Masochism). BDSM is currently employed as a capture-all phrase masking an array of activities, sorts of interpersonal associations, and distinct subcultures. BDSM communities frequently welcome any individual using a non-normative streak who identifies Together with the Neighborhood; this may include things like cross-dressers, entire body modification enthusiasts, animal roleplayers, rubber fetishists, and Many others.

Pursuits and relationships in BDSM in many cases are characterized via the individuals' taking over roles which might be complementary and include inequality of ability; Hence, the thought of knowledgeable consent of both of those the companions is critical. The terms submissive and dominant will often be employed to differentiate these roles: the dominant spouse ("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 bottom may be the receiver with the action. The two sets of phrases are subtly distinctive: for instance, another person may decide to work as base to a different individual, by way of example, by remaining whipped, purely recreationally, without any implication of getting psychologically dominated, and submissives may very well be ordered to massage their dominant companions. Although the base carries out the motion and the best gets it, they have not always switched roles.

The abbreviations sub and dom are usually applied instead of submissive and dominant. Occasionally the female-certain 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 base/submissive roles—no matter if from marriage to relationship or within a given partnership—are known as switches. The precise definition of roles and self-identification is a common subject of discussion among the BDSM contributors.