Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff. Though BDSM has long been socially stigmatized or thought to be a sign of mental illness, recent research suggests that it has no clear connection to psychiatric disorders and can in fact be a part of healthy, loving relationships. Depictions of BDSM-type sexual acts—involving dominance, bondage, or the use of pain—have been found in art and literature from around the world dating back hundreds of years. But until the latter part of the 20th century, many people, particularly in the Western world, believed that an interest in BDSM reflected mental illness, sexual deviance, or a history of abuse or sexual trauma.
More recent research, however, has suggested that people who engage in BDSM also sometimes referred to as kink are no more likely to be mentally unwell than the rest of the population. Despite decreasing stereotypes, however, many people—including some mental health professionals—still hold negative views about BDSM practices and the people who willingly engage in them.
But the rise of the Internet—as well as the explosion of BDSM-related media, including the Fifty Shades books and films—has brought BDSM into the public consciousness, rendered it more socially acceptable, and allowed those interested in it to connect with one another more easily and engage more openly.
Sex that incorporates elements of BDSM is more common than many think. Another study found that 47 percent of adults reported experimenting with at least one aspect of BDSM. While some aspects of kink do come with a risk of bodily harm—and in rare cases, people do become seriously injured— BDSM is not inherently dangerous.
Interest in BDSM is not concentrated among a single demographic, but a small body of evidence suggests that those who enjoy BDSM may share some key personality traits. On the other hand, there are some people who report practicing BDSM as a way of working through their past trauma. Some studies have indicated slightly more men than women report engaging in BDSM, but some researchers caution that social stigma may lead to survey respondents not being entirely truthful.
