SUBMISSIVENESS: FROM PSYCHOLOGY OF BEHAVIOUR TO LINGUISTIC REPRESENTATION

Abstract

The article explores submissiveness as one of the key models of human behaviour and social interaction, affecting both the individual and the collective level of functioning an individual. Submissiveness is interpreted as an inherently human trait, as well as a set of social defensive strategies that indicate a person’s refusing power, status, autonomy or control. The article is aimed at identifying and analyzing the linguistic means by which submissiveness is expressed, as well as studying the influence of psychological and social factors on the formation of submissive behaviour in the context of interpersonal interaction.
In a psychological context, a submissive personality is viewed as a complex result of the interaction between various factors, including ingenuity traits, social environment, and the individual’s personal experience. The formation of a submissive personality occurs under the influence of professional, social and cultural factors that reflect deeply rooted social norms and values. Submissive behaviour has been found to be typical of societies where there is a clear hierarchy, or where traditional gender roles are maintained. 
The analyzed sources of illustrative material demonstrate how submissiveness is realized through a variety of lexical, syntactic and stylistic means, in particular rhetorical questions, soft imperatives, negative constructions, etc. The context of uncertainty, external pressure, emotional tension affects the speech behaviour of the characters, forcing them to adapt to the situation by avoiding confrontation, reducing the categoricity of utterances and creating a trusting tone. All these elements together form a multifaceted image of a submissive personality, who acts within the limits imposed by both internal feelings and external circumstances.