BDSM is a range of frequently erotic procedures or roleplaying involving bondage, self-control, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, and various related interpersonal dynamics. Offered the wide range of practices, some of which can be engaged in by people who do not consider themselves to be practising BDSM, inclusion in the BDSM Group or subculture generally is claimed to count on self-identification and shared expertise.

The initialism BDSM is first recorded inside a Usenet put up from 1991, and is interpreted as a combination of the abbreviations B/D (Bondage and Self-discipline), D/s (Dominance and submission), and S/M (Sadism and Masochism). BDSM is currently made use of like a capture-all phrase masking a variety of actions, types of interpersonal associations, and unique subcultures. BDSM communities normally welcome any individual that has a non-normative streak who identifies Along with the Local community; this could involve cross-dressers, body modification enthusiasts, animal roleplayers, rubber fetishists, and Other individuals.

Pursuits and interactions in BDSM will often be characterized from the participants' taking up roles which are complementary and contain inequality of electricity; thus, the concept of informed consent of equally the partners is vital. The terms submissive and dominant in many cases are utilized to differentiate these roles: the dominant companion ("dom") can take psychological Manage over the submissive ("sub"). The conditions top rated and base will also be employed; the top will be the instigator of the action whilst The underside would be the receiver in the action. The 2 sets of terms are subtly different: such as, another person may possibly choose to act as bottom to a different human being, for instance, by currently being whipped, purely recreationally, with none implication of becoming psychologically dominated, and submissives may be requested to therapeutic massage their dominant partners. Although the base carries out the action and the very best gets it, they have got not essentially switched roles.

The abbreviations sub and dom are often employed in place of submissive and dominant. In some cases the feminine-particular terms mistress, domme, and dominatrix are employed to describe a dominant girl, in place of the in some cases gender-neutral time period dom. Individuals who alter in between best/dominant and bottom/submissive roles—no matter if from relationship to relationship or within a offered partnership—are known as switches. The precise definition of roles and self-identification is a common subject of debate among the BDSM participants.