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This is the version from 20 Jul 07, 8:37 PM. The full history of this entry will show any more recent versions.

ICcode for "Dominant"

[heading]Adjective

"Being" [b]dominant[/b] is about exercising influence or control. 
Governing matters; being in charge.  Predisposed to taking over and
wanting to maintain power.

[heading]Noun

In [about=BDSM]BDSM[/about], "a" [b]dominant[/b] is a person who takes
the dominant role for the duration of a [about=scene]scene[/about] or is
a dominant partner within a [about=power exchange]power exchange[/about]
relationship. 

This term can be associated with being on the giving or controlling end
of bondage, discipline or sadism but a dominant's activities might not
include any of these.

A dominant need not be a [about=Top - sexual]sexual top[/about]; for
example, a female dominant may command her
[about=submissive]submissive[/about] to penetrate her.

The term dominant as a noun is mostly synonymous with
[about=Dom]Dom[/about] but some people use it more widely to denote
anyone disposed to be dominant and would therefore say that a dominant
might be a [about=Top]Top[/about], a [about=Dom]Dom[/about] or a
[about=Master]Master[/about].

Note that some partners like to switch roles from one encounter to the
other, or even during a single encounter, depending on mood and
preference. See [about=switch]switch[/about].


[b]Dominant behaviour[/b]


A dominant person enjoys being in control of a
[about=Submissive.Adjective]submissive[/about] person. Reasons for this
are said to include demonstrating skill and [about=power]power[/about],
having [about=ownership]ownership[/about] of another person, and being
the object of affection and devotion.
[about=Domination]Domination[/about] may be the way in which the
dominant feels most comfortable expressing and/or receiving affection.
[about=Service oriented top]Service oriented dominants[/about] would add
that it is obviously useful to have the resources and abilities of
another human at their disposal.

There may be other motives, including pleasure taken not only in sheer
power but in the [about=Sadist]suffering[/about] of others, thrill
seeking in taking risks and outright self destructiveness. That is why
many in the BDSM community are concerned with establishing the
motivations of those involved in an [about=scene]encounter[/about] and
advise [about=safe]caution[/about] in making BDSM connections.


[heading]See also


[item] [about=BDSM Roles]BDSM Roles[/about]

[item] [about=Top]Top[/about]

[item] [about=Dom]Dom[/about]  [about=Domme]Domme[/about] 
[about=Dominatrix]Dominatrix[/about]

[item] [about=Master]Master[/about] 
[about=Mistress]Mistress[/about]

[item] [about=Sadist]Sadist[/about]

[item] [about=Domination and submission]Domination and submission[/about]




(This entry in the BDSM Dictionary incorporates text from the
[url=http://www.londonfetishscene.com/wipi/index.php/Dominant]Dominant[/url]
article in Wipipedia.)

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