Power exchange

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'''Power exchange''' (also called '''Erotic power exchange''') refers to a [[submissive]] exchanging their authority for the [[dominant]]'s responsibility.  This can be applied to individual [[scene]]s or to people's entire way of relating to one another.  Power exchange may be applied to very specific aspects, such as lovemaking or finance, through to every part of life for a couple or [[Polyamory|poly group]]; it is often found in relation to [[BDSM]] but is not restricted to it.
  
'''Power exchange''' (also called '''Erotic power exchange''') refers to a [[submissive]] exchanging their authority for the [[dominant]]'s responsibility.
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==Dynamic==
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On a psychological level, much [[BDSM]] "[[play]]" involves [[power]] and [[dominance]], in particular power exchange, with one person willingly handing over personal autonomyThis 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|24/7/365]].
  to make decisions (whether just for a scene, or for his or her entire life), for the Dominant's agreement to take responsibility for his/her happiness and health. -->
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== Power Exchange vs. TPE ==
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In "[[safe, sane and consensual]]" BDSM, power exchange is always negotiated. Before play, the participants would discuss their physical and psychological limitations, establish [[safeword]]s and work out what will happen.
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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 [[safeword]]s, time limits and/or explicitly negotiated understandings of what is allowed.
 +
 
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According to most practitioners, the power exchange should always be negotiated. Before play, the participants discuss their physical and psychological limitations, establish [[safeword]]s (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 [[Safe, sane and consensual|SSC]] and [[RACK]] controversies.
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==When power exchange becomes 'total'==
 
Power Exchange exists when a [[submissive]] willingly gives responsibility of certain aspects of their [[lifestyle]] to a [[Dominant]]. In its most basic level, this would pertain specifically to [[scenes]] and [[S/m]] activities specifically designed to express this power exchange to each other. Its highest level is generally referred to as [[Total Power Exchange]], or [[TPE]]. In this case, and subject to the interpretation of each partner, all or most responsibilities and decisions within predefined and [[negotiated]] [[limits]] are given from the submissive to the Dominant. TPE takes place most often in a [[Master]]/[[slave]] relationship.  
 
Power Exchange exists when a [[submissive]] willingly gives responsibility of certain aspects of their [[lifestyle]] to a [[Dominant]]. In its most basic level, this would pertain specifically to [[scenes]] and [[S/m]] activities specifically designed to express this power exchange to each other. Its highest level is generally referred to as [[Total Power Exchange]], or [[TPE]]. In this case, and subject to the interpretation of each partner, all or most responsibilities and decisions within predefined and [[negotiated]] [[limits]] are given from the submissive to the Dominant. TPE takes place most often in a [[Master]]/[[slave]] relationship.  
  
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* 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.
 
* 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.
 
* 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.
 
== In Depth ==
 
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|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 [[safeword]]s and work out what will happen.
 
 
A [[submissive (BDSM)|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 [[safeword]]s, 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 [[safeword]]s (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 [[Safe, sane and consensual|SSC]] and [[RACK]] controversies.
 
  
 
== Types of power exchange relationships ==
 
== Types of power exchange relationships ==

Revision as of 21:10, 4 January 2008

Power exchange (also called Erotic power exchange) refers to a submissive exchanging their authority for the dominant's responsibility. This can be applied to individual scenes or to people's entire way of relating to one another. Power exchange may be applied to very specific aspects, such as lovemaking or finance, through to every part of life for a couple or poly group; it is often found in relation to BDSM but is not restricted to it.

Contents

Dynamic

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.

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.

When power exchange becomes 'total'

Power Exchange exists when a submissive willingly gives responsibility of certain aspects of their lifestyle to a Dominant. In its most basic level, this would pertain specifically to scenes and S/m activities specifically designed to express this power exchange to each other. Its highest level is generally referred to as Total Power Exchange, or TPE. In this case, and subject to the interpretation of each partner, all or most responsibilities and decisions within predefined and negotiated limits are given from the submissive to the Dominant. TPE takes place most often in a Master/slave relationship.

In BDSM, the term Power Exchange is associated with a submissive exchanging his/her authority to make decisions, whether just for a scene (Power Exchange), or for his/her entire life (TPE), for the Dominant's agreement to take responsibility for his/her happiness and health.

Spontaneous Power Exchange

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.

Types of power exchange relationships

Head of Household (HOH)
Much like the 'traditional' marriage, this is a relationship that exists in many vanilla households (think of the phrase "who wears the trousers"). It is listed on this site because a HOH relationship is consciously consensual, where many vanilla situations just evolved or are imposed by one partner on the other.
Domestic Discipline (DD)
Domestic Discipline is based on the consensually agreed framework that one partner, most commonly the male, will adopt the role of overall 'leader' in a loving, committed, monogamous relationship, and the other will submit to that leadership. The purpose of this is to lessen conflict and promote harmony, respect and closer 'connection' between partners. Power exchange within a DD relationship is usually confined to certain mutually agreed areas in which both partners want to effect change and improvement and does not necessarily extend to the relationship as a whole. Within those agreed areas, the leader or 'Head of Household/Relationship' (HOH/R) takes precedence and has 'final say', although there may be extensive discussion and negotiation between partners before that point is reached. Where the HOH considers that his/her partner has broken their DD agreement, he may take the decision, for the good of both the relationship and her, to punish using (most often) spanking and/or other 'traditional' methods of discipline. Mutual respect, consideration and communication are essential to a healthy DD relationship, but, while the framework of DD must be consensually agreed, individual punishments may occasionally be given without the specific consent of the 'disciplinee'. This is known as 'non consensual consent'.
Although there are elements of DD in most power exchange style relationships, this is how DD works as a way of life in its own right.
Taken In Hand (TIH)
More narrowly-focused than most types, TIH is based on a male-led, heterosexual, monogamous relationship allowing for consensual non-consent from the woman.
Daddy/lil girl or Daddy Dom
A relationship dynamic where one partner takes a recognisably parental position with the other partner. There is more often a noticeable age gap in this type of relationship than in others but it is not about age - the 'Daddy' can be younger than the 'lil girl'. Confusingly, the "Daddy Dom" can be female but in most such heterosexual relationships, they refer to themselves with terms like Mummy/boy.
Dominant/submissive (D/s)
By some defintions, all power exchange relationships are dominant/submissive, except those where the parties normally switch. The narrower focus of the meaning of a D/s relationship, however, is of people who acknowledge to one another that one is in a dominant position over the other.
Total Power Exchange (TPE) or Absolute Power Exchange (APE)
An extreme of power exchange, often used synonymously with Master/slave. This term is more often used by those where the submissive owns property and can act in her own right but will follow all orders of the dominant.
Master/slave (M/s) or Owner/Property
An extreme form of power exchange, where one partner considers themselves the property of the other, in all practicable meaning. While it is talked about a great deal, it is actually quite rare because of the high level of time commitment from the Master (owner) and the depth of dependence the slave (property) has to be prepared to accept.

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