BDSM is a range of frequently erotic techniques or roleplaying involving bondage, self-control, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, and also other associated interpersonal dynamics. Specified the wide range of techniques, some of which can be engaged in by individuals who never take into account by themselves being practising BDSM, inclusion within the BDSM Neighborhood or subculture normally is alleged to rely upon self-identification and shared working experience.

The initialism BDSM is very first recorded in the Usenet write-up from 1991, and is particularly interpreted as a combination of the abbreviations B/D (Bondage and Self-discipline), D/s (Dominance and submission), and S/M (Sadism and Masochism). BDSM is currently made use of as being a catch-all phrase covering a wide array of things to do, forms of interpersonal associations, and unique subcultures. BDSM communities normally welcome everyone which has a non-normative streak who identifies Using the Neighborhood; this could contain cross-dressers, system modification fanatics, animal roleplayers, rubber fetishists, and Some others.

Things to do and interactions in BDSM are often characterized through the members' taking up roles that happen to be complementary and contain inequality of ability; So, the thought of informed consent of equally the companions is important. The phrases submissive and dominant tend to be utilized to tell apart these roles: the dominant companion ("dom") will take psychological Handle above the submissive ("sub"). The conditions top rated and bottom can also be used; the best is definitely the instigator of the action whilst The underside may be the receiver of the motion. The 2 sets of phrases are subtly distinctive: such as, an individual might opt to act as base to a different particular person, for instance, by remaining whipped, purely recreationally, with no implication of currently being psychologically dominated, and submissives can be requested to therapeutic massage their dominant companions. Even though the base carries out the action and the highest receives it, they have got not always switched roles.

The abbreviations sub and dom are routinely employed instead of submissive and dominant. From time to time the female-distinct conditions mistress, domme, and dominatrix are utilized to describe a dominant girl, in lieu of the at times gender-neutral expression dom. People who alter involving major/dominant and base/submissive roles—no matter if from partnership to romantic relationship or inside of a provided romance—are called switches. The exact definition of roles and self-identification is a typical issue of discussion among the BDSM participants.