Cite this post
Sutton, G.W. (2025, February 2). Dominance in psychology: A definition. Psychological Concepts and Theories. https://suttonpsychology.blogspot.com/2025/02/dominance-in-psychology-definition.html
One research article that examines this topic is "Nonverbal Behaviors ‘Speak’ Relational Messages of Dominance, Trust, and Composure" by Judee K. Burgoon and colleagues. This study investigates how nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions, posture, and vocal signals, convey messages of dominance, trust, and composure in interpersonal interactions. The researchers observed that individuals who exhibit confident and assertive nonverbal behaviors are often perceived as dominant, which can affect others' perceptions and responses.
Another relevant article is "The Impact of Leader Dominance on Employees’ Zero-Sum Mindset and Helping Behavior" by Hemant Kakkar and Niro Sivanathan. This study explores how dominant leaders can influence their subordinates' cognitive schemas, leading to a zero-sum mindset where employees believe they can only succeed at the expense of others. This mindset may reduce helping behaviors among employees, indicating the potential unintended consequences of dominance in leadership.
Psychological Measures of Dominance
16PF Questionnaire: The 16PF includes a Dominance (E) scale, which measures the degree to which an individual is assertive, self-assured, and willing to take charge in social situations.
DISC Personality Test: This test assesses four personality traits: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Compliance. The Dominance scale measures how assertive, competitive, and self-assured an individual is.
Dominance/Submission Test by IDRlabs: This test evaluates both dominant and submissive traits, providing a composite result that includes measures of assertiveness, aggression, and competitiveness.
MMPI-3: The MMPI-3 includes a Dominance (DOM) scale as part of its Personality Psychopathology Five (PSY-5) scales. This scale assesses traits related to assertiveness, control, and leadership.
References
Ben-Porath, Y. S., & Tellegen, A. (2020). Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3): Manual for administration, scoring, and interpretation. University of Minnesota Press.
Burgoon, J. K., Wang, X., Chen, X., Pentland, S. J., & Dunbar, N. E. (2021). Nonverbal Behaviors "Speak" Relational Messages of Dominance, Trust, and Composure. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 624177. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.624177
Cattell, R. B., Cattell, A. K., & Cattell, H. E. P. (1993). Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) Fifth Edition. Institute for Personality and Ability Testing.
Kakkar, H., & Sivanathan, N. (2021, October 25). The impact of leader dominance on employees’ zero-sum mindset and helping behavior. Journal of Applied Psychology. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/apl0000980
Sutton, G.W. (2025, February 2). Dominance in psychology: A definition. Psychological Concepts and Theories. https://suttonpsychology.blogspot.com/2025/02/dominance-in-psychology-definition.html
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Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology who publishes book and articles about clinical and social psychology including the psychology of religion. Website: www.suttong.com
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