Dominance/Submission

from Encyclopedia of Unusual Sex Practices, by Brenda Love (New York: Barricade Books, 1992).

(Cataphilist and Pageism -- male submitting to female, Passivism -- submission, Top/Bottom -- Dominance/Submission) A role of dominance or submission is used in sex play to increase the intensity of emotions and bonding of partners. Dominance in any arena usually involves control which is reinforced by threat of emotional or physical pain.

Dominance and submission both seem to fall into a human's need for security. Clans of primates or groups of animals usually have a dominant figure who regulates the behavior of others. Nature seems to have designed the brain of most species to produce a pleasure response to either type of behavior if engaged in by parties who trust and care for each other. Submission may be induced primarily by accompanying forms of stimulus such as a loss, restriction, or humiliation. Laboratory tests on mice revealed that in a fight endorphins (pleasure response) are released in the injured mouse only at the point of submission. Thus submission, rather than pain, was the critical factor in creating a euphoric response. (See ALGOPHILIA)

Dominance can produce euphoria because it is associated with attainment of a goal, or an object of security. A person who loses control over one facet of their life often tries to compensate for it by overcontrolling in a different area. This behavior may manifest itself in abused children with something as simple as consistent and compulsive placement of shoes in a closet. However, in an adult relationship this compulsive behavior is often acted out through demands and manipulation of another person. Here dominance serves to re-establish a feeling of security or self esteem for the person under stress.

Sexual dominance and submission are used to enhance the role of the characters in fantasy play. Costumes are often used to reinforce each role and makes physical or verbal abuse less necessary. Costumes that project power include policemen, military, doctors, and black leather. Accoutrements used to enforce submission are diapers, feminine lingerie, whips, slave or dog collars, and bondage equipment. A dominant who is only experienced in corporal punishment would not be a match for a submissive who follows orders perfectly and is not into pain. Alternately, a submissive who enjoys punishment for misbehaving or verbal warfare is not a match for a dominant who can't handle competition for control.

The submissive controls the intensity and direction of the game. People often select roles because it provides a change from the ordinary. People who have inhibitions or guilt associated with sexual experimentation find that this seems to relieve them of personal responsibility for their actions. Total sexual submission is used by some as a way to express love. A person who lets a partner put a dog collar on them feels they are expressing love in a way that words never will. This is perhaps why submissives can sometimes appear to go to extremes.

Dominant sex play is also often engaged in as an entertaining way to refine the management skills needed in all types of professions.

(See also ALGOPHILIA, BLINDFOLDING, BONDAGE, CHASTITY DEVICES, COITUS A CHEVAL, DEFILEMENT, HUMILIATION, INTERROGATION, PETTICOAT DISCIPLINE, PROFESSIONAL DOMINATRIX, TORTURE and VICTORIAN LACE)

This file was last modified on July 23, 2011.