BDSM is many different typically erotic tactics or roleplaying involving bondage, willpower, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, as well as other connected interpersonal dynamics. Presented the wide selection of methods, a few of which may be engaged in by individuals who usually do not think about themselves to be practising BDSM, inclusion in the BDSM Group or subculture generally is claimed to depend upon self-identification and shared expertise.

The initialism BDSM is very first recorded inside a Usenet publish from 1991, and is interpreted as a mix of the abbreviations B/D (Bondage and Self-control), D/s (Dominance and submission), and S/M (Sadism and Masochism). BDSM is now used to be a capture-all phrase covering a variety of functions, kinds of interpersonal relationships, and distinctive subcultures. BDSM communities typically welcome anybody which has a non-normative streak who identifies Along with the Neighborhood; this may include things like cross-dressers, human body modification enthusiasts, animal roleplayers, rubber fetishists, and Many others.

Pursuits and relationships in BDSM in many cases are characterized via the individuals' taking over roles which might be complementary and involve inequality of electric power; Therefore, the thought of informed consent of both equally the partners is vital. The terms submissive and dominant in many cases are utilized to tell apart these roles: the dominant partner ("dom") normally takes psychological control above the submissive ("sub"). The conditions leading and base are also utilised; the best may be the instigator of the motion whilst the bottom is definitely the receiver from the motion. The 2 sets of conditions are subtly distinct: one example is, somebody may possibly prefer to act as bottom to another man or woman, for example, by becoming whipped, purely recreationally, with no implication of staying psychologically dominated, and submissives may be ordered to massage their dominant companions. Even though the base carries out the motion and the best receives it, they've not always switched roles.

The abbreviations sub and dom are usually made use of instead of submissive and dominant. Occasionally the female-distinct phrases mistress, domme, and dominatrix are applied to explain a dominant female, in lieu of the sometimes gender-neutral term dom. Individuals who alter among prime/dominant and bottom/submissive roles—no matter if from marriage to marriage or within a given relationship—are known as switches. The precise definition of roles and self-identification is a standard issue of discussion between BDSM members.