BDSM is many different typically erotic techniques or roleplaying involving bondage, willpower, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, along with other connected interpersonal dynamics. Provided the wide selection of methods, a few of which may be engaged in by individuals who don't think about themselves to be practising BDSM, inclusion in the BDSM Group or subculture generally is claimed to depend upon self-identification and shared knowledge.

The initialism BDSM is very first recorded inside a Usenet post from 1991, and is interpreted as a mix of the abbreviations B/D (Bondage and Self-discipline), D/s (Dominance and submission), and S/M (Sadism and Masochism). BDSM is now made use of for a catch-all phrase covering a variety of routines, forms of interpersonal interactions, and unique subcultures. BDSM communities usually welcome any one by using a non-normative streak who identifies With all the community; this will likely contain cross-dressers, body modification lovers, animal roleplayers, rubber fetishists, and Other individuals.

Activities and interactions in BDSM are frequently characterised through the contributors' taking up roles that are complementary and require inequality of energy; Consequently, the idea of educated consent of each the associates is essential. The phrases submissive and dominant tend to be applied to distinguish these roles: the dominant associate ("dom") takes psychological Management around the submissive ("sub"). The phrases top rated and bottom will also be made use of; the very best could be the instigator of an action when The underside may be the receiver with the motion. The two sets of phrases are subtly unique: for instance, an individual may perhaps decide 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 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 place of the in some cases gender-neutral time period dom. People who change between leading/dominant and bottom/submissive roles—no matter whether from romantic relationship to romance or in just a supplied marriage—are termed switches. The specific definition of roles and self-identification is a standard subject matter of discussion amid BDSM individuals.