Fear play

Fear play is any sexual activity involving the use of fear to create sexual arousal. Unlike masochistic tendencies, fear play does not offer the subject pleasure or arousal through a rush of endorphins, but rather a terrified mental state which triggers a release of adrenaline.^[1] Some have likened its role to that of horror movies, in providing a harmless outlet in which to feel frightened.^[2]

Definition

Fear play is typically considered edge play, a category of BDSM-related activities with high physical or psychological risk. While Limits are usually set out in sexplay, they may be pushed or ignored in some edge play scenes to heighten sexual arousal as the subject becomes excited by the feeling of helplessness.^[3] Asphyxiation and castration play are common within edge play sub-sections of BDSM.^[4]

Examples

Some types of fear play may take advantage of a persons doubts, such as abandonment or humiliation. Others are more physically based. Medical play, knife play, or kidnappings may include a psychological aspect of fear, but it may be the physical activity that causes the emotion.^[5]

References

v t e Outline of BDSM Bondage and discipline B&D or B/D Animal roleplay Breast bondage Collar Crotch rope Forced orgasm Hogtie bondage Interrogation scene Japanese bondage Metal bondage Mummification Positions Predicament bondage Self-bondage Sensation play Spreadeagle position Suspension bondage Tie and tease Tease and denial Dominance and submission D&S or D/s Ageplay Bladder desperation Body worship Boot worship Erotic humiliation Erotic sexual denial Facesitting Fear play Male dominance Male submission Female submission Female dominance Feminization Master/slave Medical scene Rape fantasy Servitude Sexual slavery Submissive Sadomasochism S&M or S/M Caning Cock and ball torture Erotic asphyxiation Erotic electrostimulation Erotic spanking Impact play Knife play Play piercing Temperature play Tit torture Urethral sounding Violet wand Wax play Related concepts Aftercare Consent Edgeplay FLR Fetish International Fetish Day Gorean Kink Leather Pride flag Pegging Role-play Safeword / SSC Scene Subspace Top / Switch / Bottom Culture and media Equipment Glossary Organizations