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

Sensory deprivation

Sensory Deprivation involves deliberately removing or reducing one or more of the submissive's senses through various tools and techniques. This commonly includes blindfolds or hoods to remove sight, earplugs or noise-canceling headphones to limit hearing, bondage to restrict movement and touch, or even nose plugs to affect smell.

The power of this practice lies in how it alters perception and increases vulnerability. When deprived of primary senses, submissives often experience heightened sensitivity in remaining senses, increased focus on internal sensations, and a deeper surrender due to their reduced ability to anticipate or control what happens. The increased dependency on the dominant creates profound trust dynamics. Dominants value the increased control, the submissive's amplified responses to stimuli, and the psychological impact of managing their partner's sensory experience. This activity creates an intense power exchange by placing one person's sensory reality largely in another's hands.

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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: