This article will go over the dynamics of dominance as a relationship quality in humans.
Dominance can be good or bad depending on which partner is dominant. If one has power over the other, then it can have beneficial effects that individuals might not be able to achieve otherwise outside of a relationship.
It’s important for women to reclaim their sexuality and resist being treated as an object, rather than fearing it like men do traditionally. For some reason women are taught that their worth is in their vagina and it’s up to men to strip them of this prize by dominating them; which perpetuates toxic masculinity and the idea that women are sexual objects. Men have been taught that their power is in their private part, and it’s up to women to strip them of this prize by giving them sex; which makes them think they are entitled to sex.
The concept of dominance with regards to sexuality is a controversial topic and an area of continuing research. Some people have argued that humans are naturally polygynous, meaning that males try to mate with multiple females within the same social group. However, some would argue that humans are naturally polyandrous (males mating with multiple females) because women can give birth every nine months compared to 12 years for men.
How is dominance on relationship said?
In 1955, Donald G. Dutton, who was an anthropologist, wrote that there were four types of male dominance:
Control and submission: The person in power is a source of total security. They can do whatever they please with little to no harm. They have the influence and status within the group which allows them to be safe from harm or danger. He or she is innately dominant over others, and therefore does not necessarily need to exert force against others in order for them to submit. This is often achieved through physical force without the use of illegal weapons.
Nurturance: He or she provides care for others and acts as if they are part of his family (a father-figure). They work as a team, and they take their role as a father or mother seriously. He or she provides security for the others in his circle.
Power: He or she is in charge of the group, and he or she uses force against the other people. He or she is dominant over others and does not have to resort to violence against them.
Submission: His or her power comes through his abilities (brains, skills, talents), and he/she has no need to be physically strong (even though it’s a possibility). His/her power comes from within. The person in this position is very passive compared to those who are exerting force on others.
Can it hurt your significant other? Research study says
In the 1970s, Richard D. McAnulty, a psychologist, described five types of dominance:
Coercive: Some women are beaten and abused by their male partners. Aggressive: Using force to dominate others is an example of this. Instrumental/Exploitative: This type of dominance is achieved by taking advantage of others for the benefit of oneself or others. Physical: The use of physical strength and power in order to control others. Moral/Intellectual: Individuals choose to be dominant over others because they have desirable skills and qualities that give them status within a group or organization. The term “alpha male” was also originated from this study with regards to the pecking order between chickens in a barnyard.
A main issue that has been discussed in relation to dominance is how it has been associated with male violence. Some people believe that there is no correlation between dominance and violence because some individuals who display dominance are also very peaceful and nonaggressive. This viewpoint has been termed “dominance without aggression.” As a result, there is a lack of accepted evidence to support the correlation between dominance and male violence. This has led to the view of many dominant men as deceptive, but also one where the opposite is true for female aggressors.