Sexual roleplaying is the sexual behavior of playing some kind of character during a sexual encounter, in order to evoke a sexual fantasy in oneself and/or one's partner and enhance the pleasure of the experience.
This is often, but certainly not always, done in the context of a BDSM encounter. Sexual roles can be very general designations of power position, sometimes abstracted to "top" and "bottom," or very specific, detailed fantasies. See power exchange for more on power relationships and sex.

Nearly any "role" could become the base material for an erotic experience, but certain scenarios are typical in pornography and probably in real life as well, though it is difficult to collect empirical data on such things.

Much sexual roleplaying is based on eroticizing power difference. This is not, however, a necessary element of sexual roleplaying. Often sexual roleplaying is used to act out a sexual act that would otherwise be taboo or forbidden.

Some common character couplings in sexual roleplaying include:

  • Doctor/Nurse
  • Doctor/Patient
  • Priest/Altar Boy
  • Priest/Confessionalist
  • Boss/Employee
  • Sergeant/Ensign
  • Prostitute/Client
  • Knight/Damsel in Distress
  • Magician/Magician's assistant
  • Celebrity/Fan
  • Master/Slave
  • Jailer/Prisoner
  • Teacher/Student
  • Rider/Pony
  • Trainer/Dog

See also: