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 individuals who usually do not contemplate on their own to become practising BDSM, inclusion in the BDSM community or subculture normally is alleged to rely upon self-identification and shared practical experience.

The initialism BDSM is 1st recorded within a Usenet submit 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 now utilized to be a capture-all phrase masking a variety of activities, types of interpersonal relationships, and distinctive subcultures. BDSM communities normally welcome anybody using a non-normative streak who identifies Together with the Local community; this might consist of cross-dressers, system modification lovers, animal roleplayers, rubber fetishists, and Other individuals.

Activities and associations in BDSM tend to be characterised through the participants' taking up roles which are complementary and require inequality of electrical power; thus, the concept of educated consent of equally the associates is important. The conditions submissive and dominant are frequently made use of to tell apart these roles: the dominant husband or wife ("dom") will take psychological Command above the submissive ("sub"). The conditions leading and base are also utilised; the best may be the instigator of an action although The underside is the receiver on the motion. The 2 sets of terms are subtly diverse: for example, a person may well choose to act as bottom to a different human being, for instance, by currently being whipped, purely recreationally, with none implication of being psychologically dominated, and submissives could be requested 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 lady, as opposed to the often gender-neutral expression dom. People who transform concerning top/dominant and bottom/submissive roles—whether or not from romantic relationship to romantic relationship or in just a supplied romance—are termed switches. The specific definition of roles and self-identification is a standard subject matter of discussion amid BDSM members.