Dominance
Individuals with a Goal of Dominance want to be seen as being charge and in control. Our primary objective is to reinforce the image that around us people can relax. We are typically used to overcoming difficulties and create a sense of stability and peace around us. We accomplish this by reinforcing the idea that we are here and will take care of any difficulty. In this way, we are seen as leaders by others. They naturally defer to us because they believe we are capable and will be able to solve any problem that arises. Dominance is the action energy organized for group expression. This means others usually see and trust our ability to make things happen easily and effortlessly.
The primary purpose of a person with a Goal of Dominance is to be a central authority or focus that brings a sense of organization to the people around them. For this reason, individuals with a Goal of Dominance are usually more convergent in their decision making process. When an individual in a Goal of Dominance gets overwhelmed and burned out, they can become pushy, dictatorial, demanding, and insensitive. In this situation, we tend to lose our focus and by doing so, lose the trust of others around us. When we are reactive, others notice how we put ourselves first. The more balanced we are, the less noticeable this is, creating more of an image that we want others to win with us. Since each Goal has a polar opposite, we can switch to the other extreme when we get overwhelmed. In this case, we could switch from Dominance to Submission.
It is also possible when we are overwhelmed that we are more overt in our need to control everything around us. In extreme circumstances, we can be more rigid and so focused on the goal that we do not care the means we use to accomplish what is in front of us. The more in balance we are, the more we radiate a sense of supreme self-confidence like General MacArthur on the field of battle. Approximately 10 percent of the U.S. population operates with the primary Goal of Dominance. This Goal is best seen with Warrior and King energy individuals where it compliments their action orientation. In other situations, such as when an individual is an Artisan or Sage with a Goal of Dominance, it can be perceived almost paradoxically as being open and directive at the same time.
Individuals with a natural Goal of Dominance don’t care so much how others perceive their abilities. When we are imprinted with a Goal on Dominance, we care tremendously how others perceive us and can become reactive if they don’t accept our authority. When we are engaging in Dominance imprinting, we focus on how others are willing to conform or believe in our leadership. The more others ignore our leadership when we have Dominance imprinting, the more we believe they are rebelling and the more we conclude they must not trust us. What we want most of all is to be seen as a person in charge of a situation. This is why, in a group of people with Dominance imprinting, it can become very challenging as a pecking order is established.
Individuals authentically embodying the goal of dominance, expresses themselves by their ability to take simple action. People around them experience a considerable degree of certainty that things will be taken care of. An individual with dominance imprinting commonly provokes reactions from others because they are internally incongruent and unable to make decisions quickly enough for others to feel the same degree of confidence. As a result, a person doing dominance imprinting triggers issues of uncertainty and lack of effective implementation in others. It is ironic that people doing an imprint of dominance think that they are so effective when, in fact, everything they attempt to accomplish is undermined by others. Maybe this is why they end up becoming so isolated and separate from others.
Primary Contribution—To lead others in accomplishing tasks.
Responsive characteristics— Leadership, natural authority, out-going, capable, win/win attitude.
Primary Issue—To learn to balance their own objectives with the objectives of those they lead.
Reactive characteristics—Dictatorial, demanding, pushy, overwhelming, insensitive, selfish, “I win/You lose” attitude.
Identifying Characteristics—Takes charge, extreme self-confidence, controlling manner.
Percentage of population with this goal: 10%.
Examples
Roseanne - actress/comedian (Growth and Acceptance imprinting)
Barbara Stanwyck - actress/movie star (Growth and Discrimination imprinting)
Madonna - Singer/Actress (growth and discrimination imprinting)
Mohammed Ali -Heavyweight Fighter and Champion (acceptance imprinting)
Clint Eastwood -Actor/Director (discrimination and growth imprinting)
Howard Cosell -Sportscaster (major discrimination imprinting)
Elizabeth Dole -former Director of the American Red Cross, politician wannabe (discrimination and acceptance imprinting)
Fidel Castro -revolutionary leader, dictator, and President of Cuba (discrimination and submission imprinting)
Winston Churchill -British Prime Minister during WWII (discrimination, growth, and acceptance imprinting)
John Huston -Film Director (discrimination imprinting)
Ann Richards -former Governor of Texas (growth and acceptance imprinting)
Mae West -Actress (discrimination and growth imprinting)
Sir Edmund Hillary -First to Summit Mt. Everest (discrimination and growth imprinting)
Barbra Streisand -Singer, Songwriter, Actress and Director (growth and discrimination imprinting)