Honor Bondage

Updated: FEBRUARY 6, 2017

Honor bondage is a type of bondage that does away with the need for physical bondage aids, like ropes or cuffs, in a BDSM scene. Instead, the submissive captive is encouraged to hold a determined position using only his or her own willpower. For example, a submissive’s wrists may not be physically tied to a headboard, but he or she agrees not to move them, and to pretend they are bound, for the duration of the scene.

The practice is a way to let a submissive person experience an S&M dynamic without the intimidation of actual physical bondage. It also gives the submissive more control and responsibility than they would ordinarily experience during a BDSM scene.

More About Honor Bondage

Honor bondage was popularized in the science fiction novels of John Norman. In his "Gor" books, Norman portrays submissives who are “bound by the master’s will.” It is only once the master utters the words, “You are unbound,” that the captive is released from their imagined shackles.

While honor bondage does not typically require the use of physical restraints, the practice may be complemented with mild bondage apparatuses.

Honor bondage is similar to mental and psychological bondage. However, honor bondage relies on the voluntary submission of the captive, rather than on an imposition of will by the captor on his or her submissive partner. Because of this, a submissive partner can easily leave a BDSM scene at any time if they do not feel comfortable. For this reason, some submissives prefer to use honor bondage when playing with unfamiliar dominant partners.