Power exchange
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In BDSM, the term Power Exchange is associated with a submissive exchanging his/her authority to make decisions (whether just for a scene, or for his/her entire life), for the Dominant's agreement to take responsibility for his/her happiness and health.
One person may willingly and consciously hand over personal autonomy or the power dynamic may arise between the parties in the relationship as a spontaneous result of their interpersonal chemistry, in which case no conscious decision is made. This power can manifest in an endless variety of relationship dynamics. Some of the variations include:
- addressing another person as "Master" or "Mistress" for a ten-minute scene.
- a witnessed, formal collaring with a lifelong agreement between the parties for the dominant to provide an ongoing presence in the submissive's life. See TPE. Collared slaves have responsibilities and duties that vary from the moderate to extreme micro-management.
- an agreement of service that covers the duties and responsibilities of the submissive that may or may not include a long term commitment. Some service relationships are understood to last only as long as the submissive maintains performance standards.
On a psychological level, much BDSM "play" involves power and dominance, in particular power exchange, with one person willingly handing over personal autonomy. This can range from addressing another person as "Master" or "Mistress" for a ten-minute scene, to a witnessed, formal collaring with an agreement which governs the submissive's entire life.
The latter is often referred to as TPE or Total Power Exchange or 24/7 or 24/7/365.
In "safe, sane and consensual" BDSM, power exchange is always negotiated. Before play, the participants would discuss their physical and psychological limitations, establish safewords and work out what will happen.
A submissive is a person who submits or potentially submits to another. Submissives can vary in how serious they take their position, training, and situation. Reasons for this include relief from responsibility, being the object of attention and affection, gaining a sense of security, showing off endurance or working through issues of shame.
A dominant (abbreviation dom) is a person who exercises the power to take control of a person or situation through usage of some means (such as physical, mental, financial, etc.) on a regular basis; the abbreviation dom is also sometimes used as the gender specific term for a male dominant, while domme is exclusively used for female dominants. Reasons for this include demonstrating skill and power, having ownership of another person, being the object of affection and devotion.
In most power exchange as referred to in a BDSM scene, there are limitations on the power the dominant has over the submissive, such as safewords, time limits and/or explicitly negotiated understandings of what is allowed.
According to most practitioners, the power exchange should always be negotiated. Before play, the participants discuss their physical and psychological limitations, establish safewords (words that will signal the cessation of the scene), and work out what activities they will engage in.
However, many reject extensive negotiation and eschew the use of safewords, preferring instead to accept heightened risk and facilitate a more "natural" interaction. The conflict between the need for risk and the need for limitations and safety is at the heart of the SSC and RACK controversies.
