BDSM is several different frequently erotic procedures or roleplaying involving bondage, self-control, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, and other associated interpersonal dynamics. Provided the wide range of methods, a few of which may be engaged in by individuals who don't contemplate on their own to become practising BDSM, inclusion within the BDSM community or subculture frequently is claimed to count on self-identification and shared practical experience.

The initialism BDSM is 1st recorded within a Usenet submit from 1991, and it 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 currently utilized as a capture-all phrase covering a wide range of things to do, sorts of interpersonal associations, and distinct subcultures. BDSM communities commonly welcome any individual having a non-normative streak who identifies with the Local community; this will include cross-dressers, overall body modification fanatics, animal roleplayers, rubber fetishists, and others.

Functions and associations in BDSM are often characterised from the members' taking on roles which have been complementary and entail inequality of power; As a result, 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 spouse ("dom") takes psychological Management around the submissive ("sub"). The phrases top rated and base are also utilised; the best may be the instigator of the motion whilst The underside is definitely the receiver in the motion. The 2 sets of terms are subtly distinct: such as, somebody may well prefer to act as bottom to another man or woman, for example, by getting whipped, purely recreationally, with none implication of remaining psychologically dominated, and submissives might be requested to therapeutic massage their dominant associates. Even though the base carries out the action and the top receives it, they've got not automatically switched roles.

The abbreviations sub and dom are commonly used as opposed to submissive and dominant. Often the feminine-precise conditions mistress, domme, and dominatrix are made use of to explain a dominant woman, rather than the at times gender-neutral phrase dom. Individuals who adjust involving top rated/dominant and base/submissive roles—whether from partnership to partnership or inside a provided connection—are referred to as switches. The exact definition of roles and self-identification is a common topic of debate among BDSM participants.