BDSM is several different usually erotic techniques or roleplaying involving bondage, willpower, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, along with other relevant 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 within the BDSM community or subculture normally is alleged to rely upon self-identification and shared working 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 being a capture-all phrase covering a wide range of activities, varieties of interpersonal associations, and distinct subcultures. BDSM communities frequently welcome any individual using a non-normative streak who identifies Using the Group; 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 that are complementary and require inequality of energy; So, the concept of educated consent of the two the associates is crucial. The conditions submissive and dominant tend to be made use of to distinguish these roles: the dominant lover ("dom") will take psychological Regulate more than the submissive ("sub"). The terms top rated and bottom may also be made use of; the top could be the instigator of the action even though The underside will be the receiver with the motion. The two sets of phrases are subtly unique: for instance, an individual may perhaps decide to act as base to a different person, as an example, by staying whipped, purely recreationally, with none implication of becoming psychologically dominated, and submissives could possibly be purchased to therapeutic massage their dominant associates. 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 an alternative to the often gender-neutral expression dom. People who transform concerning top/dominant and bottom/submissive roles—whether or not from connection 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.