BDSM is a number of usually erotic procedures or roleplaying involving bondage, self-control, 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 being practising BDSM, inclusion from the BDSM Local community or subculture typically is said to depend on self-identification and shared encounter.

The initialism BDSM is first recorded inside of a Usenet write-up from 1991, which is 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 now applied being a catch-all phrase masking a wide array of routines, types of interpersonal interactions, and unique subcultures. BDSM communities usually welcome anyone that has a non-normative streak who identifies Together with the community; this could incorporate cross-dressers, entire body modification fans, animal roleplayers, rubber fetishists, and Some others.

Actions and interactions in BDSM are sometimes characterized with the participants' taking over roles which are complementary and contain 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 bottom are employed; the highest will be the instigator of an motion while the bottom could be the receiver of the action. The 2 sets of conditions are subtly different: by way of example, anyone might elect to work as base to another individual, one example is, 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 action and the very best gets it, they have got not essentially switched roles.

The abbreviations sub and dom are frequently utilized as an alternative to submissive and dominant. From time to time the feminine-specific 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 major/dominant and base/submissive roles—whether or not from connection to connection or in a presented romantic relationship—are identified as switches. The exact definition of roles and self-identification is a typical matter of debate amongst BDSM participants.