BDSM is a number of usually erotic procedures or roleplaying involving bondage, self-control, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, and various related interpersonal dynamics. Given the big selection of tactics, many of which can be engaged in by individuals that never take into consideration them selves being practising BDSM, inclusion from the BDSM Local community or subculture usually is said to depend on self-identification and shared experience.

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 Discipline), D/s (Dominance and submission), and S/M (Sadism and Masochism). BDSM has become applied being a catch-all phrase masking a wide array of routines, forms of interpersonal interactions, and unique subcultures. BDSM communities usually welcome any one that has a non-normative streak who identifies Together with the community; this could incorporate cross-dressers, physique modification fans, animal roleplayers, rubber fetishists, and Some others.

Routines and interactions in BDSM are sometimes characterized because of the individuals' taking over roles which can be complementary and contain inequality of electricity; thus, the concept of informed consent of both equally the partners is vital. The terms submissive and dominant are sometimes utilized to differentiate these roles: the dominant associate ("dom") takes psychological Management over the submissive ("sub"). The phrases major and bottom also are 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: for instance, another person may elect to work 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 partners. Although the bottom carries out the action 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. Sometimes the female-particular phrases mistress, domme, and dominatrix are utilised to explain a dominant girl, in place of the in some cases gender-neutral time period dom. People who change in between leading/dominant and bottom/submissive roles—no matter whether from romantic relationship to romance or inside of a specified marriage—are called switches. The specific definition of roles and self-identification is a standard subject of debate among the BDSM contributors.