Explanation of submission

Explanation of the term submission in BDSM

Submission means to be controlled, in BDSM mainly to let oneself be controlled, by another person or group of persons.

Submission is more a state of mind with the person who lets itself be controlled than anything else, and therefore difficult to describe, since it may be experienced very differently by different persons, or by the same person at different occasions. The reason for indulging in submission may be to show trust for ones partner, need to let go of control, wish to be relieved from responsibility, need to punish oneself, or various combinations thereof. Some elements of submission may be bondage, discipline or sadomasochism, but a person can also submit entirely without such elements. Manifestations of submission may be e.g. "slave contracts", rules, orders and different training programs, but submission may also function without any of these manifestations.

The term submissive is often used to designate a part in a BDSM relationship who let itself be controlled, regardless if submission is a prominent part of the relationship or not.