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BDSM is an abbreviation for "bondage, dicsipline, sadism, and masochism". Sexual kinks are interests that mostly lie outside of what ordinary people would consider to be normal. This is includes a wide variety of behaviors that may be looked at as an unconventional sexual taste or behavior. These two topics have a broad spectrum relating to the different kinds of activities that reside within each realm of sexual gratification.

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This conception argues that some behaviors are not inherently deviant, but rather constructed by society. BDSM and similar sexual behaviors can be explained using this theory because such behaviors can be identified as deviant by some because they do not conform to the tradtional "vanilla" practices of sexual behavior. These types kinks and practices can challenge the traditional, heteronormative sterotypes towards sex itself. People also use these types of behaviors and actions as a form of self expression to shift the perspective of conventional sexual practices.

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Adler and Adler's "B" of the ABC's of deviance translates to the actions that violate societal norms(either intentional or inadvert actions). BDSM and sexual kinks are a behavior that the partakers use in order to express their sexual identites and preferences. Oftentimes there are certian parts of these acts that allow people to dress up to engage even more within the roleplay of the fantasy that they are carrying out.

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Selection applies to these sexual practices because they consent and choose to engage in certain activities including bondage, specific fetishes, inflicting pain, etc.

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Merton's Strain Theory explains deviance as being a result of the divide between cultural goals and the institutionalized means available to achieve them. Rebellion and Innovation apply best to this kind of deviance because they still seek intimacy and sexual satisfaction, but do so in non-traditional ways. They could also be considered rebels if they continue to constant reject the societal norms for sexual satisfaction, sexuality, traditional gender roles and even power dynamics. The cutural goal is this instance is is not accepted as people are participate in BDSM and related activites don't fit in to the coneventional culturl goals such as financial fullfillment, career advancement, or social status that most societies focus on. These activites prioritize sexual gratification, and the exploration of different means for pleasure, which do not align with the traditional cultural goals in a society. From the perspective of main stream society, these forms of sexual gratification are considered illegitimate means because thez are stigmatized and looked at as unconventional methods of sex, despite the fact that these consensual practices are not inherently criminal or harmful.

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Blemishes of individual character apply to the people who partake in these sexual practives because they are seen as having "unnatural" fantasies or pleasures. People develop these curosities and therefore lead to accepting a deviant identity even when their behavior may not be known to the general public. The mere existnece of these practices and the knowledge of them being labeled as unusal leads to the deviant identity being formed.

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This type of sexual behavior would be viewed as discreditable because unless they are at a certain public event where others can see or taking their practices out in public, you would not know that these individuals participated in such types sexual acts.

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A study by Thomas(2023) revealed that BDSM has drama that emerges through the stories an scenes that are told by using a variety of rooms and resources to satisfy contradictory emotions. These scenes are where participants harness their true desires and reveal the hidden parts of their own souls. This study showed how this "soul" is involved in the suffering and degradation as the primary factor of defining adversity within BDSM practices. It is also important to note how these practices can be eye-opening in the sense of reshaping the stories about ourselves and our hidden desires.

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Anon. n.d. “What Is BDSM Sex?” WebMD. Retrieved March 3, 2025 (https://www.webmd.com/sex/what-is-bdsm-sex).

Goffman. Erving, Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. New York: Touchstone
(Reissue edition). 1986.

Kassel, Gabrielle. 2023. “20 Common Sexual Kinks, According to Sex Educators, and Why It’s Totally Normal to Have a Kink.” Business Insider, February 24.

Meeker, Carolyn. 2013. “Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, and Sadism and Masochism (BDSM) Identity Development.”

Thomas, Douglas. 2023. The Deep Psychology of BDSM and Kink: Jungian and Archetypal Perspectives on the Soul’s Transgressive Necessities. London, England: Taylor & Francis.

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BDSM sex is a term for a variety of sexual practices that include bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, and sadism. Learn more about BDSM sex and how to practice it safely.

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There are positive effects on society in relation to these topics but most would say that it has a negative effect on society if used in the wrong way. These bahaviors can be positive in recognizing the uniqueness of human sexuality and behaviors regarding these types of acts. Opening up opportunites for exploration and curiosity about our own bodies leads to challenging power dynamics and the traditional "boring" behaviors of sex that most people usually turn to. On the other hand, it can have a negative impact on society because, depending on the situation, most of these activities are done behind closed doors and in private, therefore not much noise is made about these individuals who engage in unconventional sexual actions. Sometimes people attend parades or sexual events that are shown in public and that is where the real problem with how society reacts occurs. Many are often shamed and told to keep these kinds of behaviors away from the public eye because it is considered to be "weird" and "unhealthy".

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How do these "deviants" view their own behavior?

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How do these "deviants" view their own behavior?

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These people would view their behavior as being a deviant career because everyone has a different sex life and oftentimes these kinds of things are not only a one time occurance as one often has a special sexual connection and relaionship with their partners. Sometimes if someone is willing to try something or expereiment it can be considered a one time abberrations in order to find themsleves and what kind of sexual experiences they like, but most of the time it is an ongoing behavior.

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Goffman's sympathetic others refers to individuals or groups who offer understanding or support to the stigmatized identity. In terms of applying how these individuals share the stigma, the category that would best fit case is "those that share the stigma". The people into BDSM often form groups for representation of the stigma and join together to support each others interests. They are sympathetic with one another in the sense that they all share the same knowledge of how society views their sexual activites in a negative way.

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Goffman's visibility focuses on how well or how badly the stigma is adapted to communicate that the individual possesses it. Practices like BDSM, especially those that involve inflicting pain, dominance/submission, bondage are usually invisible because they are conducted within provate settings. However, these behaviors can become visible if they choose to openly wear BDSM-related clothing or attire such as collars/leashes or partake in fetish clubs or pride parades. When such behaviors are exposed to a bigger audience, that is when they become deviant or stigmatized by those who don't engage or accept them.