Category: D/s, Power Play
Subcategory: Power exchange / Protocol

Mono/Poly Arrangement

Mono/Poly Arrangement refers to the negotiated structure of a D/s relationship regarding exclusivity or openness to other partners. This might involve agreements where the dominant may have multiple submissives while the submissive remains exclusive, where the submissive may serve others with permission, or various other configurations of emotional and physical boundaries with outside relationships.

These arrangements appeal because they explicitly incorporate relationship structure into the power exchange. Some submissives find deeper submission in accepting their dominant's authority to determine their sexual or romantic freedoms. Others experience submission through accepting their dominant's other partners. Dominants might value the authority to shape relationship boundaries, the expanded possibilities of multiple submissives, or the control over their submissive's outside interactions.

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This is a description of an activity in the BDSM checklist (also known as a 'kink list'). Want to discover what (more) kinks you might have? Maybe share them with a partner? Start the checklist!

About the category D/s, Power Play

Dominance and submission (D/s) and power play revolve around the consensual exchange of control between partners. This dynamic can manifest in countless ways—from bedroom-only scenarios to comprehensive lifestyle arrangements—all centered on one partner taking a controlling role while the other yields authority within negotiated boundaries.

People are drawn to power exchange for diverse reasons: the freedom found in surrender, the thrill of exercising control, the deep trust required, and the opportunity to explore aspects of themselves not expressed in everyday life. Unlike physical BDSM activities which focus on bodily sensations, D/s emphasizes psychological connection and the erotic potential of power differentials, creating experiences that many find deeply fulfilling on both emotional and sexual levels.

About the subcategory Power exchange / Protocol

Power exchange protocols establish formalized patterns of behavior between partners that reinforce and express their D/s dynamic. These may include specific language requirements, postures, rituals, or rules that symbolize and maintain the consensual power differential between participants.

People engage in protocols for the structure and clarity they bring to power exchange relationships. These practices create consistent reminders of roles, deepen the psychological aspects of submission and dominance, and provide a framework for expressing devotion and control. For many practitioners, the mindfulness required to maintain protocols creates a meditative focus that enhances connection and satisfaction beyond what more casual power dynamics might offer.



All activities in the checklist: