Separation anxiety associated with submissive BDSM identity

BDSM, an acronym for Bondage, Discipline, Dominance, Submission, Sadism, and Masochism, is a practice that involves an exchange of power. In new research, Shengyu Li investigated how attachment styles, a concept describing interpersonal relationships, might influence one’s BDSM identity. This study was published in Archives of Sexual Behaviour.

BDSM is not necessarily driven by psychological disorders. Instead, it can represent the interaction of individual preferences and psychological dispositions, including attachment styles. Attachment, defined by emotional bonds formed in relationships, significantly shapes personal identity and behavioral patterns. This study, drawing on a sample of Chinese participants, explored whether these attachment styles influence or predict the BDSM roles of dominance, submission, or switching.

Data collection occurred between October to November 2022, utilizing an online questionnaire platform known as Wenjuanwang. Among the 3310 participants who responded to the recruitment, 1856 individuals identified as BDSM practitioners. All participants were between the ages 18-30. The survey targeted both BDSM practitioners and non-practitioners to serve as a control group. Recruitment was facilitated through a BDSM-related WeChat Official Account, a popular social media platform in China.

Participants completed a questionnaire assessing both attachment styles and BDSM interests. The survey included the Adult Attachment Scale which gauges three dimensions of attachment, including 1) closeness: the degree of comfort individuals feel being close to others; 2) dependence: the extent to which individuals rely on others; and 3) anxiety: the level of concern about being abandoned.

Participants responded to these items on a 5-point scale (strongly agree to strongly disagree). Based on these scores, attachment styles were categorized into four types: secure, anxious, avoidant, and insecure. The questionnaire also asked participants about their BDSM identities, dividing them into dom-type, sub-type, and switch based on their preferences and behaviors in BDSM contexts. Other questions addressed demographic variables, sexual orientation, experiences of sexual abuse, and parenting styles.

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Li found that while general attachment styles between BDSM practitioners and non-practitioners were similar, significant differences emerged within the BDSM group itself. Dom-types often displayed secure and avoidant attachment styles, suggesting independence and a lesser need for emotional closeness, while sub-types exhibited higher levels of anxious attachment, indicating greater concerns about separation and abandonment.

This pattern suggests that BDSM roles may cater to specific emotional and psychological needs. Interestingly, the study did not find a direct influence of attachment styles on the choice of BDSM identity, suggesting the presence of other mechanisms driving these preferences.

One limitation noted by the author is the focus on a younger demographic, which may not fully represent the broader BDSM community.

The study, “The Psychology of Kink: A Cross‐Sectional Survey Investigating the Association Between Adult Attachment Style and BDSM-Related Identity Choice in China” was authored by Shengyu Li.