Definition
Submissiveness refers to both an interpersonal trait and a set of social defensive strategies that indicate the person is relinquishing power, status, autonomy, or control. The function of submissiveness often is to promote social organization by reducing social conflict and promoting reconciliation.
Introduction
From an evolutionary perspective, submissiveness may be understood as a collection of complex social behaviors that mitigate conspecific aggression and promote social cohesion and harmony (Gilbert 2000). In animals, submissiveness consists of strategies and communicative functions that inhibit fighting. When faced with a dominant aggressor, engaging in submissive behaviors, such as lowering one’s head or averting one’s eyes, can signal appeasement and compliance, thereby reducing the potential threat of violence and deescalating conflict. In humans, these behaviors are associated...
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Clegg, KA., Moskowitz, D.S. (2020). Submissiveness. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T.K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24612-3_2121
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24612-3_2121
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