First, is there a difference in humiliation, degradation, dehumanization, and objectification from the standpoint of a BDSM relationship?

If there is a difference, how do you define those differences?

From a BDSM standpoint, I believe there is, from my own, not so much - in my opinion, I just see them as varying levels of humiliations - the depth at which one seeks to be humiliated - some only want a little of one and others like to delve deep into the humiliation pool. Many people call the degradation and dehumanization side negative and wrong with BDSM (I've seen it posted on here as well). Truly I think they are only levels. I'm very sure even the lightest humiliation is seen by the vanilla's as negative also and we call them judgemental.

Maybe that's a better answer, depends on your judgement of each one.

- humiliation (verbal; being called a nasty slut while being taken type thing)

- degradation: (verbal; being called a worthless piece of fuckmeat on a very regular basis, programming to a deeper, constant level of humiliation type thing)

- objectification - (physical; being thought of as only an object, table, footstool, ashtray, being used like you have no animated thought)

- dehumanization - (physical; reducing the person to less than an animal state, without thought or regard the their feelings, an extreme state of humiliation)

Obviously from first to last, the last is a very intense form of humiliation and is what some people do seek from their life and what many others see as wrong. I don't think anyone can judge 'wrong' for anyone else, we don't know what turns on another, what another seems to crave to fulfill their own soul. And while complete dehumanization is not for me, I don't have to like it but also wouldn't judge it for another.


I am also curious as to how the perspective of orientation (Dom, Sub, Top, Bottom) affects the view of the use of this type of play in a BDSM relationship?

For me, they are exactly along the same lines as Sadist to masochist - there is an equal and opposite side to them all; and a person to match it to