Are You a "Take-Charge" Type?

It seems that whenever two people meet, the issue of who is dominant is the first one to be settled, most often very subtly. Between students, who gets better grades? Between executives, who earns more or has the larger office? Between tomboys, who is tougher? Among animals, the case is clear. Birds, in particular, size each other up and then decide who shall henpeck whom to show superiority.

Dominance-submissiveness is probably the most basic of all interactions between creatures great and small. In Western culture, submissive behavior is not rewarded. We tend to push our children ahead with notions of the “go-getter,” and expressions like “Never say die,” all of which reflect our belief in the value of personal dominance.

Where do you stand on the dominant-submissive scale? The following quiz may provide the answer.