D124

Dominance Style

BD09 Motivation & Drive
Derived LayerMML-2

Version v1.2.4

Definition

The characteristic way influence is expressed: pressure, formal authority, competence, care-based authority, manipulation, etc.

Poles

Each HES element is a spectrum, not a category: the Low and High poles describe how it presents at its two extremes, while the Reference marks the typical, everyday middle. The poles map variation across the range — neither end is inherently better or worse.

Low Pole

Influence expression is weak or inconsistent; loses frame in competitive social contexts.

High Pole

Style is clear and stable; the person reliably “holds the frame” of influence in groups.

Reference

Dominance is context-bound: strong in familiar settings, unstable in novel ones.

Measure

Primary: Mode Profile — distribution and stability of influence modes (e.g., pressure vs competence vs care vs manipulation) across contexts.

Measuring Methods

Coding of real interaction episodes + 360-ratings on influence modes; compare self-perception vs observer perception.

Empirical Anchor

Dominance style / interpersonal dominance (Wiggins, 1979); authoritarian vs prosocial dominance (Maner & Case, 2016).

Notes

Not inherently good or bad; overlap with manipulativeness occurs only when covert control dominates.

Citation

APA

Human Elements System. (2026). Dominance Style (HES Passport D124, v1.2.4). hestable.com. https://hestable.com/passport/D124

BibTeX

@misc{hes_D124, author = {{Human Elements System}}, title = {{Dominance Style}}, year = {2026}, note = {HES Passport D124, v1.2.4}, howpublished = {\url{https://hestable.com/passport/D124}} }