The Nature Of Submissives

[lupestripe]

Are submissives generally selfless creatures who wish to make others happy, or do they have self-esteem issues that are only alleviated by the opportunity to serve and make their masters happy? I really don't know my own take on it.

(And yep I am being way to psychoanalytical and I know you can't generalise completely - just interested in the psychological mechanisms)

Comments

[crystamartin.livejournal.com]

For me it's not a self-esteem issue as I can and have been known to switch. Those who have seen me as a Domme are few and far between, mind.

It boils down to two things, with me - the mandatory "I'm happy when I'm pleasing someone else" that's been mentioned a few times already (which makes life awkward when you're with someone who is happy when YOU'RE happy, yay vicious circles >:D), but its also a control issue.

If you think about it, I live on my own, drive my own car, work my own job, etc. I've got universal control over my life, a lot of it. Sometimes that is what makes me crack - there's too much to be done because I have to make every choice and I'm not always prepared to cope with them. By subbing, I give up that control. It's up to Master what I do - all I have to worry about is obeying him. It's a release from the stresses I go through daily, basically.

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

It's pretty much why I am a submissive too really. My inability to switch off and relax has been the cause of a significant number of my mental problems and being a sub allows me to not worry about such things. Equally, however, the desire to please and to be told I am pleasing, is a huge confidence boost to my fragile ego.