The dominance behavioral system and psychopathology: Evidence from self-report, observational, and biological studies.

Abstract

The dominance behavioral system (DBS) can be conceptualized as a biologically-based system which guides dominance motivation, dominant and subordinate behavior, and responsivity to perceptions of power and subordination. A growing body of research suggests that problems with the DBS are evident across a broad range of psychopathologies. We begin by describing psychological, social, and biological correlates of the dominance behavioral system (DBS). Extensive research suggests that externalizing disorders, mania-proneness, and narcissistic traits are related to heightened dominance motivation and behaviors. Mania and narcissistic traits also appear related to inflated self-perceptions of power. Anxiety and depression are related to subordination and submissiveness, as well as a desire to avoid subordination. Models of the DBS have received support from research with humans and animals; from self-report, observational, and biological methods; and using naturalistic and experimental paradigms. Limitations of available research include the relative lack of longitudinal studies using multiple measures of the DBS and the absence of relevant studies using diagnosed samples to study narcissistic personality disorder and bipolar disorder. We provide suggestions for future research on the DBS and psychopathology, including investigations of whether the DBS can be used to differentiate specific disorder outcomes; the need for more sophisticated biological research; and the value of longitudinal dynamical research. Implications of using the DBS as a tool in clinical assessment and treatment are discussed.

Does Worrying Mean Caring Too Much? Interpersonal Prototypicality of Dimensional Worry Controlling for Social Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms

“…This core of submissiveness on all IPC measures was consistent with the theory that social anxiety specifically promotes submissive behaviors (Trower & Gilbert, 1989). Given theories linking submissive behavior to depression (Gilbert, 2001;Johnson, Leedom, & Muhtadie, 2012), it is of note that depressive symptoms did not account for the links of social anxiety to low dominance. This specificity fits with previous research (Weisman et al, 2011) and shows that the link is not due to worry.…”

Positive Affectivity: Specificity of Its Facet Level Relations with Psychopathology

“…Given Selfassurance's consistent positive relations with various forms of externalizing psychopathology (such as disinhibition, antagonism, and narcissism) and mania, it seems to represent a somewhat maladaptive variant of positive affectivity. Mania and narcissism are theoretically connected through the dominance behavioral system, a biologically based system guiding dominant behavior and responses to perceptions of power (Johnson et al 2012). Johnson et al (2012) discuss how narcissism and mania both are characterized by strong drives for power and recognition, which our data indicate are tied to individual differences in selfassurance (e.g., feeling fearless, bold, and confident).…”

“…Mania and narcissism are theoretically connected through the dominance behavioral system, a biologically based system guiding dominant behavior and responses to perceptions of power (Johnson et al 2012). Johnson et al (2012) discuss how narcissism and mania both are characterized by strong drives for power and recognition, which our data indicate are tied to individual differences in selfassurance (e.g., feeling fearless, bold, and confident). Relatedly, the content contained in self-assurance is strongly related to reward seeking (Watson 2000a;Stanton and Watson 2015) and, therefore, may also be related to Questionnaire-9, IDAS-II Expanded Version of the Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms, HPS Hypomanic Personality Scale, PID-5 Personality Inventory for DSM-5, AUDIT Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, GADQ-IV Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-IV, NPI Narcissistic Personality Inventory, Jov Joviality, Self-Assr Self-Assurance, Attent Attentiveness, Seren Serenity activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which is implicated in motivation and reward seeking behavior (Shiota et al 2011).…”

Psychopathy: A Behavioral Systems Approach

“…[11].) Although all four human social behavioral systems contribute to behavioral disorders [11][12][13] only the attachment/affiliation system is recognized widely by clinicians due to the work of Bowlby [14,15]. Bowlby, a psychoanalyst was strongly influenced by ethologist Robert Hinde [16].…”

“…If either genetic endowment or maturational experiences affect the development of the ABS and CGS, then the result will be excessive dominance motivation and aberrant development of the DBS and SBS. Children incapable of love will be unmotivated to regulate dominance strivings and develop aggressive dominance strategies and perhaps endocrine responses that promote aggression [12] and unrestricted sociosexual orientation. Genetic endowment may also directly increase dominance motivation.…”