Dominance - Definition and Overview

For the meaning of the word "dominance" in genetics, please see Dominance relationship

Dominance in the context of biology and anthropology is the state of having high social status relative to other individuals, who react submissively to dominant individuals. The opposite of dominance is submissiveness.

Dominance or domination, in terms of BDSM, refers to taking control of a person or situation through usage of some means (physical, mental, financial, and so forth), or to exercise this power. A person who exercises this power on a regular basis, outside of BDSM scenes, is called a Dominant; the gender specific titles being Dom for a man, Domme or Dominatrix for a woman. See domination and submission for more information.

"Dominance hierarchies" are found in many animals, including primates such as human beings.

See domination and submission for a discussion of a human sexual behavior involving sexual dominance.

See also:

• aggression
• alpha male

External links:

• http://www.cbs.umn.edu/chimp/social7.htm
• http://cogprints.ecs.soton.ac.uk/bbs/Archive/bbs.mazur.html
• http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/sci_update.cfm?DocID=69