A form of Edge Play. S/m it’s BDSMK poster child, along with Bondage and Discipline. Sadomasochism in its purest form is about inflicting pain [sadism] and receiving pain [masochism] and deriving pleasure from it [the inflicting part are Tops, the receiving part bottoms]. Nonetheless, many players include Power Exchange, Pet Play or other play’s elements. Although S/m is traditionally thought of in its most physical form, it also involves -the less popular and more difficult to achieve- emotional/psychological play. Its physical manifestation can involve: hair-pulling, spanking, whipping, clamps; while its emotional manifestation involves humiliation - mind fucking.

S/m play activities are most commonly comprise within the following plays: Impact Play, Sensory Play, Breath Play, Blood Play, Mental Play.

The consent aspect of it is what differentiates S/m as a form of kink play from crime, bullying, domestic violence, and so on.