Nice article. Dominance is however unmistakably part of personality. There are several versions of the so called five factor model that in today’s psychology is used to describe personality. One of the five factors is the Extraversion scale. Each five factors have underlying sub-factors that explain the construct the respective factor. In case of extraversion (scale extroversion-introversion) these sub factors are sociability, social skill, ambition, adventurism, dominance and expressiveness. So, as a sub scale to Extraversion psychology does recognise dominance as a such. Of course the opposite of dominance -to make it a scale- must be something like submission.
As each sub scale can be measured trough questionnaires to determine where a person is on the sub scale, submission is not per se linked to Introversion only. No it can also exist in Extravert people as a single low(er) score on Dominance.
But definitely it is part of how modern psychology looks at personality traits.
Yes, the Big 5 does seem like the most reliable way to understand personality. And I do think that "natural" dominants and submissives - the ones with Even More in the Shadow - probably have corresponding scores on their traits or aspects, though I might factor in Agreeability and Neuroticism... which perhaps explains switches and different flavours of dominants.
However, my impression from talking to a lot of people is that the link between traits and kink orientation is complicated by fetish and - I don't have a modern technical term for this - catharsis.
So, somebody might not look submissive on the Big 5, but from time to time enjoy getting tied up and whipped because they simply have a fetish for it, and/or because it's a break from more dominant behaviour. Part-time dominants seem similar... not much different from people who enjoy violent video games but wouldn't go near a real fight. The important thing is that the D/s roles for these people are fleeting but still authentic. The Shadow seems like a good metaphor for describing this phenomenon.
I generally don't address the Big 5 directly because it's not really clear how the traits combine to create D/s orientation, so it's an extra level of detail that doesn't really add anything. In the same way, I don't address endorphins etc - it's enough to note that for some of us, pain in certain circumstances gives us a buzz.
Nice article. Dominance is however unmistakably part of personality. There are several versions of the so called five factor model that in today’s psychology is used to describe personality. One of the five factors is the Extraversion scale. Each five factors have underlying sub-factors that explain the construct the respective factor. In case of extraversion (scale extroversion-introversion) these sub factors are sociability, social skill, ambition, adventurism, dominance and expressiveness. So, as a sub scale to Extraversion psychology does recognise dominance as a such. Of course the opposite of dominance -to make it a scale- must be something like submission.
As each sub scale can be measured trough questionnaires to determine where a person is on the sub scale, submission is not per se linked to Introversion only. No it can also exist in Extravert people as a single low(er) score on Dominance.
But definitely it is part of how modern psychology looks at personality traits.
You raise an important point!
Yes, the Big 5 does seem like the most reliable way to understand personality. And I do think that "natural" dominants and submissives - the ones with Even More in the Shadow - probably have corresponding scores on their traits or aspects, though I might factor in Agreeability and Neuroticism... which perhaps explains switches and different flavours of dominants.
However, my impression from talking to a lot of people is that the link between traits and kink orientation is complicated by fetish and - I don't have a modern technical term for this - catharsis.
So, somebody might not look submissive on the Big 5, but from time to time enjoy getting tied up and whipped because they simply have a fetish for it, and/or because it's a break from more dominant behaviour. Part-time dominants seem similar... not much different from people who enjoy violent video games but wouldn't go near a real fight. The important thing is that the D/s roles for these people are fleeting but still authentic. The Shadow seems like a good metaphor for describing this phenomenon.
I generally don't address the Big 5 directly because it's not really clear how the traits combine to create D/s orientation, so it's an extra level of detail that doesn't really add anything. In the same way, I don't address endorphins etc - it's enough to note that for some of us, pain in certain circumstances gives us a buzz.
I've written up my more developed thoughts here, if you are interested: https://femdom.substack.com/p/do-natural-dommes-and-subs-exist