BDSM is a range of frequently erotic methods or roleplaying involving bondage, self-discipline, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, and also other linked interpersonal dynamics. Supplied the wide selection of procedures, a number of which may be engaged in by people that 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 practical experience.

The initialism BDSM is initially recorded in the Usenet submit 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 a capture-all phrase covering a wide range of functions, kinds of interpersonal relationships, and distinctive subcultures. BDSM communities commonly welcome any person having a non-normative streak who identifies While using the Local community; this will include cross-dressers, overall body modification fanatics, animal roleplayers, rubber fetishists, and others.

Functions and relationships in BDSM will often be characterized by the members' taking on roles which have been complementary and entail inequality of power; thus, the concept of educated consent of equally the associates is important. The conditions submissive and dominant are sometimes used to tell apart these roles: the dominant husband or wife ("dom") will take psychological Command above the submissive ("sub"). The conditions leading and base are also employed; the best will 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, someone could opt to work as bottom to another particular person, such as, by being whipped, purely recreationally, with no implication of currently being psychologically dominated, and submissives may very well be ordered to massage their dominant companions. Even though the base carries out the motion and the best gets it, they have not always switched roles.

The abbreviations sub and dom are usually applied in lieu of submissive and dominant. Occasionally the female-certain phrases mistress, domme, and dominatrix are utilised to explain a dominant girl, in lieu of the in some cases gender-neutral term dom. People who alter among prime/dominant and bottom/submissive roles—no matter if from marriage to relationship or within a given partnership—are known as switches. The precise definition of roles and self-identification is a common subject of discussion between BDSM members.