Impact play, rope bondage, and breath control—to name just a few of the diverse BDSM practices explored in a global study.
This second installment of a series on BDSM dives deeper into research involving hundreds of adults. Based on findings published in The Journal of Sex Research, it provides a detailed look at the wide range of activities BDSM practitioners engage in.
The study
To unpack the intricacies of BDSM participation, researchers from the Department of Justice Studies at San Jose State University conducted a study of 810 adults from 43 countries.
Participants answered a 102-question survey, which included many open-ended queries. This approach allowed for more detailed and personal responses, especially regarding demographics and personal experiences.
The study examined who and how often people participated in 15 different BDSM activities involving rope, impact, breath, temperature, water, fire, cutting, knives, needles, medical scenarios, blood, urine, scat, guns, and consensual non-consent (CNC). CNC refers to scenarios when participants “consent” to act out scenes of “non-consent.”
To gauge how frequently participants engaged in the activities, they were asked to choose between the following options: never, rarely, sometimes, often, or regularly.
Consent and risk-awareness
Practicing BDSM is not a free-for-all.
It involves structured practices, with agreed-upon guidelines and boundaries.
It’s crucial to understand the fundamental principles of consent and risk-awareness that underpin the BDSM community.
According to kink-positive sex ed site Kinkly, SSC (Safe, Sane, and Consensual) and RACK (Risk-Aware Consensual Kink) are two popular frameworks within the BDSM community that promote ethical behavior among practitioners.
Safe, Sane, and Consensual
SSC emphasizes the importance of safety, mental health, and mutual agreement in BDSM practices, aiming to protect all individuals involved.
- Safe: Activities should not cause unwanted harm or distress to the participants. Safety measures and precautions are vital, including the use of safe words and understanding the risks involved in specific activities.
- Sane: Activities should be performed in a sensible and sober manner, recognizing the difference between fantasy and reality, and ensuring that all actions are rational and thoughtful.
- Consensual: All activities must involve the full consent of all parties involved. Consent should be informed, given freely without coercion, and can be withdrawn at any time.
Risk-Aware Consensual Kink
RACK, on the other hand, focuses more on the acceptance and management of risk, highlighting the importance of awareness, communication, and consent in navigating the inherent dangers of BDSM practices.
It is considered by some as a more realistic approach for experienced practitioners who acknowledge that not all BDSM activities can be entirely safe but can be engaged in responsibly with informed consent.
- Risk-Aware: Acknowledges that all BDSM activities involve some level of risk. Participants should understand and accept the potential dangers involved in their actions.
- Consensual: Like SSC, consent is paramount. All parties must agree to the activities and understand the risks and responsibilities.
- Kink: Refers alterative sexual practices and BDSM activities in general.
Both SSC and RACK help foster a culture of respect, consent, and responsibility. However, preferences for ethical frameworks may vary among individuals and communities. Some may also choose to adopt a combination of principles from multiple frameworks based on their specific values and needs.
Popular and related BDSM activities
While some BDSM activities were more popular, engagement in certain riskier ones were highly correlated.
Respondents said they participated in the following activities at least sometimes:
- 88% for impact play.
- 84% for rope bondage.
- 58% for breath control.
- 53% for CNC.
Respondents said they participated regularly in the following activities:
- 42% for impact play.
- 14% for rope bondage.
- 13% for breath control.
- 12% for CNC play.
The research also found that participation in certain BDSM activities was strongly linked to one another. For example, activities involving knives, needles, cutting, and blood play were related, as were urine play and scat play, CNC and breath control, and knives and fire play.
Predicting BDSM play
To uncover the factors shaping engagement in BDSM activities, logistic regression analyses were conducted on birth gender, private and public participation, and years of BDSM experience.
The results showed that women were more likely to regularly engage in impact play, CNC, and others involving temperature, fire, knives, and needles.
People with experience in both private and public BDSM play were more likely to participate regularly in all activities, especially those involving knives.
Lastly, the more years of experience someone had in BDSM, the more likely they were to regularly engage in a wider variety of activities, particularly ones like water torture, fire play, needle play, and medical play.
Exploring the depths of kink
BDSM activities combine pleasure, pain, risk, and consent.
This study opens a window into the most popular ones and how demographic factors influence preferences. It also reveals people who participate in certain types of BDSM activities are likely to engage in related ones based on their nature or the risks involved.
Get ready for part three in the series covering BDSM partner choices.
The compelling data promises to enrich understanding and uncover patterns regarding solo and partnered play sessions.
Featured image source: iStock
