Physiological outcomes

Psychology of BDSM

Psychology
of BDSM

Psychology
gateway

(all psychology articles)

Basics

Penetration

Engagement

Consent

Communication

Power

Authority

Control

Trust

Fetish

Defence mechanisms

Mapping motivations to activities

Roles
Top		Bottom
Dominant		Submissive
Master		Slave
Trainer		Trainee
Owner		Property
Mistress
Switch
SAM

Motivations (all motivation articles)

Ecstasy

Subspace

Catharsis

Surrender

Experiencing power

Hotter sex

Recreation

Expiation of guilt

Intimacy and bonding

Physiological outcomes

Chemical high

Unhealthy motivations

Just a bit of fun (not)

Pain (not)

Play versus "deep play" versus work

Transformation of pain into pleasure

The joy of being a top or dominant

As well as psychological or emotional outcomes from engaging in different BDSM scenes or relationships, there can also be beneficial physiological outcomes.

• A physically-demanding scene, such as a long, heavy flogging can be a cardiovascular workout for the top or dominant and can be equivalent to a deep-body massage for the bottom or submissive.
• Temple Grandin and Kirsten Krauss report studies revealing that bondage-like situations create physiological experiences outside of BDSM context. Some study participants reported subspace-like feelings such as "floating".