Power Exchange
In BDSM and kink, power exchange, also called a power dynamic, is when one person consensually gives another person some degree of authority or control. This is sometimes seen as a "gift" of power because the authority is willingly given instead of taken.
Types of Power Exchange
Power exchange can happen in different ways, these include:
Scene-Based Power Exchange
Power is exchanged only for the duration of a specific session or scene. Normal egalitarian dynamics resume immediately after.
24/7 Power Exchange
In a 24/7 dynamic, the agreed power dynamic is present throughout most or all of the partners’ daily lives, not just during BDSM scenes. This might involve following ongoing rules, rituals, or protocols. However, even in this arrangement, the submissive is still considered independent, and retains the ability to consent and make choices. This type of power exchange is often seen in Master and slave dynamics.
Total Power Exchange and Authority Transfer
Within core BDSM, authority transfer (AT) is when a slave or submissive irrevocably transfers all of their agency to their Dominant or Master. Consent is still given, but is not renegotiated for each activity.
In a total authority transfer (TAT) or total power exchange (TPE) in core BDSM, there are no areas where the submissive (slave) retains their agency, or such areas are so irrelevant as not to count. The slave is considered to be the property of their Dominant who assumes the title of Master. This process is consensual and has nothing to do with historical slavery. Once consent to the TAT is given, withdrawing consent will nullify the dynamic.
Related Terms
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