Before you get TOO deep in that relationship, consider these dominant partner red flags first!
It’s crucial to navigate relationships cautiously, especially when encountering a dominant partner. While it’s only natural for one partner to take the lead sometimes, there are certain dominant partner red flags that should never be overlooked.
These warning signs are vital indicators of potentially unhealthy dynamics within a relationship. Whether you’re in the early stages of dating or extremely committed, knowing these signals is essential for your overall emotional well-being.
From dismissive attitudes to controlling behavior, recognizing these dominant partner red flags could be the key to safeguarding yourself from harm. So join Inspiring Wishes as we delve into the subtle yet significant signs that demand attention and reflection.
Ignoring these warnings could lead to loss of autonomy, emotional manipulation, and maybe even abuse. Let’s shine a light on these 9 dominant partner red flags and empower ourselves to build healthier, more honest relationships.
Dominant partner red flag: They can be stubborn and uncompromising
Dominant partners can be inflexible and stubborn, especially regarding their opinions and beliefs. They’re not interested in hearing your point of view if it’s different from theirs, and they’re not afraid to shut you down when you speak or dismiss your ideas outright.
This behavior can quickly lead to conflict and arguments, especially if you like to have open and honest conversations about important topics.
Dominant partner red flag: They NEVER have a problem saying no
A dominant partner isn’t afraid to say no, even when they know something is significant to you. Their thinking is that they know what’s best for both of you, and they won’t change their mind just because you don’t like how things are going.
While this might work in some circumstances, it can be very aggravating if your partner constantly shoots down your suggestions and ideas. If you don’t enjoy always giving in to your partner’s demands, you must clarify that your needs aren’t being met.
Dominant partner red flag: They’re overly critical
Dominant partners are frequently highly critical, both of themselves and anyone around them. They may be incredibly hard on themselves and expect you to always be there for them, even when they’re being irrational.
What’s worse, they may even criticize you for changing you into someone they think is more suitable. Constructive criticism can be valuable, but constantly being on the receiving end of criticism is heartbreaking and will sabotage your self-esteem.
This behavior is often an indication of their low self-esteem and insecurity. They’re trying to make you feel inferior to feel better about themselves.
Dominant partner red flag: They insist on making all the decisions
A dominant partner will generally take charge and make most of the decisions in your relationship. In most cases, this is limited to big decisions that affect both partners, including where you go on vacation, where you live, or how you spend your time on the weekends.
But, a controlling partner might try to control every other aspect of your life, as well, from who you see to what you wear and what you do.
Financial control is also standard in relationships where one partner is more dominant. If your mate dictates how you spend your money or tries to control your finances, it greatly reduces your autonomy and can be tough to escape.
Dominant partner red flag: They’re highly independent
In any thriving relationship, it’s only natural that both partners need to maintain a sense of autonomy and independence. But, a dominant partner will frequently take this to the extreme and refuse to rely on you for anything in their lives.
They might never include you in their plans or make vital decisions without consulting you first. Or they have a lot of mysteries they keep private and keep essential parts of their life hidden from you.
Whatever the case may be, this behavior can make you feel unwanted and like you’re not a part of the relationship.
Dominant partner red flag: They desire to feel needed
The need to be dominant usually comes from a place of insecurity. Even though your mate can seem like they have all the confidence in the world, they may crave your validation and approval to feel good about themselves.
But instead of showing vulnerability and acknowledging that they need you, they’ll try to control you in a misguided attempt to appear needed and valuable.
If your partner’s need for control comes from insecurity, you can try to be supportive and understanding. But, you must also set boundaries so their behavior doesn’t begin to negatively affect your life.
Dominant partner red flag: They expect you to anticipate their every need
A dominant partner tends to expect you to know what they want and need at any given moment, even if they don’t communicate it verbally.
They might even get enraged or withdraw from you if you don’t automatically know how to please them. Of course, it’s impossible to read someone’s mind, and no one should ever have to.
Dominant partner red flag: They never ask for your consent
Rather than consulting you or asking for your input, a dominant partner will make decisions and expect you to go along with whatever they decide. This works well for some partners as long as the boundaries around decision-making are transparent.
But, it can quickly lead to resentment and frustration if you don’t have any input into important decisions that affect you as well.
Even if you trust your partner to make sound decisions, it can be hard to feel like you have no say in your life. If this concerns you, you must talk to your partner about it.
Dominant partner red flag: They always get their way
If your mate always seems to get whatever they want, it shows that they don’t feel the need to compromise or even consider your needs. Think about the last time you disagreed about something. Were they willing to listen to your side of the story?
Or did they steamroll over you and do whatever they wanted anyway? If your partner constantly ignores your concerns and needs, it’s time to have a serious discussion about compromise and respect.
How to deal with these dominant partner red flags
Now that we’ve reviewed some dominant partner red flags let’s discuss what you can do if your partner displays these behaviors.
Stay calm: Handling on your emotions is vital when communicating with a dominant personality. Stay calm and rational, use logic and facts to make your case, and be consistent on where you stand.
If you get emotional, your partner will probably see it as a sign of weakness and disregard your concerns.
Set clear boundaries: It’s essential to communicate with your partner and set healthy boundaries. If you’re feeling disrespected, sit down with them and clarify how their behavior makes you feel.
Be assertive and use “I” statements to describe your feelings. It’s also essential to be clear about what you’re willing to tolerate and what you won’t. If they’re unwilling to change their behavior, you might need to consider whether or not the relationship is worth it.
Accept that you can’t change people: If you’re in a relationship with a dominant personality, you must accept that you can’t change them. You can certainly influence their behavior to a certain extent.
But ultimately, they are who they are, and there’s nothing you can do about it. If you’re unwilling to tolerate their behavior, it might be time to find someone else.
For more on this matter, we highly recommend this audiobook from Amazon: When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People
And if you found this post useful, you may also like: 11 Alpha Female Traits… and How to Become One
