BDSM is various typically erotic techniques or roleplaying involving bondage, willpower, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, as well as other associated interpersonal dynamics. Provided the wide range of practices, some of which can be engaged in by people who do not consider them selves to generally be practising BDSM, inclusion during the BDSM Local community or subculture typically is claimed to rely on self-identification and shared knowledge.

The initialism BDSM is very first recorded inside a Usenet post from 1991, and is 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, kinds of interpersonal relationships, and distinctive subcultures. BDSM communities normally welcome anybody which has a non-normative streak who identifies Along with the Neighborhood; this may include things like cross-dressers, system modification lovers, animal roleplayers, rubber fetishists, and Other people.

Things to do and associations in BDSM are often characterised from the contributors' taking on roles which have been complementary and entail inequality of power; Consequently, the idea of knowledgeable consent of both the companions is essential. The phrases submissive and dominant are often utilised to distinguish these roles: the dominant associate ("dom") takes psychological Management over the submissive ("sub"). The phrases top rated and bottom will also be used; the very best is definitely the instigator of an action when the bottom may be the receiver of your action. The two sets of phrases are subtly distinctive: as an example, another person may elect 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 can be purchased to massage their dominant partners. Although the bottom carries out the motion and the highest gets it, they may have not necessarily switched roles.

The abbreviations sub and dom are often employed in place of submissive and dominant. In some cases the feminine-specific terms mistress, domme, and dominatrix are employed to describe a dominant lady, as an alternative to the from time to time gender-neutral time period dom. People who improve between top/dominant and bottom/submissive roles—no matter whether from romance to romance or in just a supplied marriage—are termed switches. The specific definition of roles and self-identification is a standard subject matter of discussion amid BDSM individuals.