• What the Dominant Cluster is
    • The dominant cluster is one of the four primary assessments used to assess individual people.
    • It reflects the body’s manifestation of the fight response to stresses and threats.
  • The criteria for assigning someone to the dominant cluster:
    • People who are using their body language to make themselves look larger.
    • People who are making territorial displays.
  • Application notes
    • Dominance is not limited to physical confrontation as part of the fight response, but includes the posturing that could be used to make a person back down.
    • Includes bullying, intimidation, and the giving of direction.
  • Indicators listed in Left of Bang that apply to dominance
    • Lower Body
      • Seated: Feet planted on the floor and legs splayed out, taking up space.
      • Seated: Legs crossed and with their hands holding their ankle or lower calf, demonstrating confidence in one’s view.
      • Standing: Legs should-width apart, taking up more space.
    • Torso
      • Seated: Leaning back with hands clasped behind head, taking up more space
      • Standing: Hands on hips in an authoritative way, with their arms akimbo they are taking up more space
      • Standing: Leaning forward in an aggressive manner, attempting to look bigger or intimidate others
      • Standing: Stretching torso and making oneself look taller by standing upright and erect
      • These can be complimented by observing the chin up and thrusting the chest out.
    • Hands and Arms
      • Arms spread out on an object (table, counter, etc.) taking up more space – a territorial display
      • Hands clasped behind back as if judging or evaluating
      • Wrist and palm facing down when shaking hands or greeting
      • Pointing with hands while talking or lecturing
      • Steeple gesture with hands (perceived as intellectual and confident)
    • Other Indicators
      • Maintaining one’s gaze for a longer period of time or not averting one’s own gaze
      • Dominant people can breach another’s intimate proxemic zone
      • Touch other people to demonstrate control
  • Selected research articles, and books that discuss dominant behavior:
  • View Exercises With The Dominant Cluster