Category: Fetish
Subcategory: Types

Abandonment

Abandonment fetishism involves arousal from scenarios where one is temporarily "abandoned" or left alone in vulnerable states as part of consensual play. This might include being restrained and left in isolation, being "forgotten" at a party while bound or exposed, or elaborate scenarios where partners pretend to leave during intimate moments.

The erotic appeal stems from the psychological vulnerability created by simulated rejection or isolation, particularly when combined with physical vulnerability like restraint. This edge play requires extensive negotiation about scenario details, time limits, safety measures, and monitoring protocols. For practitioners, the emotional intensity of temporary abandonment creates a powerful psychological space where vulnerability itself becomes eroticized, often followed by reconnection that reinforces the relationship dynamic.

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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 Fetish

Fetish describes a focused arousal response to specific objects, materials, body parts, or scenarios that aren't inherently sexual. These can include attraction to leather, latex, specific clothing items, particular body features, or specialized scenarios that create intense erotic responses beyond what might be expected from their conventional context.

People with fetishes often experience powerful, concentrated arousal from their specific interests that may enhance or even be necessary for sexual satisfaction. Far from being unusual, most people have some degree of fetishistic interest, though the intensity varies widely. Many enjoy exploring these focused desires for the heightened sensation they provide, the mindfulness they create during intimate encounters, and the opportunity to celebrate specific aspects of sexuality that might otherwise be overlooked in more conventional approaches to pleasure.



All activities in the checklist: