Guilt

Guilt can appear in BDSM in at least two ways:

1. It can be a motivation for engaging in some forms of pain play as a way of accepting punishment for something you feel guilty about. This is called expiation of guilt. Guilt can come from many sources. It can come from recent poor or bad behaviour. Some family upbringings and some religions encourage their members to feel guilty. Regardless of the source, sometimes a good chastisement through caning, spanking, imprisonment or some other BDSM activity can keep the guilt at bay.
2. Guilt can be a consequence of being involved in BDSM. Someone may feel this guilt because they haven't told their partner about it, because their upbringing tells them that they're supposed to be tough and masculine and they find themselves crawling at the feet of a dominant, or because they have to keep it hidden for some reason and feel bad about it.