The Dominator tries to gain the upper hand in the relationship by force, and the Empath takes the other person's feelings as their own concern. The Dominator is the one who controls, and the Empath is the one who accepts without end.
When someone who wants to dominate meets someone who empathizes without limit, the burden easily falls on one side only. What follows is an honest account of what wears the Empath out in this relationship, and how they can protect themselves and recover.
The Empath is relieved by the firm attitude of the Dominator, who leads strongly. Having always looked after others, they feel for the first time that someone is taking responsibility for them.
The Dominator, in turn, is deeply drawn to the Empath, who understands and accepts anything. They see the Empath as someone who will accept everything without opposing their way.
The deepest risk is that the Empath gradually shrinks. When the Dominator always has their own way and the Empath puts off their own opinion every time, the Empath's judgment and feelings are slowly ignored.
The emotional burden also falls on the Empath alone. Taking on even the Dominator's moods, the Empath wears out without ever looking after their own heart. The Dominator often fails to notice the Empath wearing out, or takes it for granted.
The more the Empath understands and endures, the stronger the Dominator's control grows instead of easing. When a conflict arises and the Empath blames themselves first and lets it pass, the Dominator apologizes and then does the same thing again, over and over.
If this goes on for a long time, the Empath no longer even knows what they wanted, and fits themselves to the Dominator's judgment of them. Because of their good heart, the Empath ends up losing themselves.
If the Dominator looks back on themselves and changes their attitude, they can use that strong will to protect people rather than suppress them. Without deep self-awareness on the Dominator's own part, though, such a change is hard.
For the Empath, this relationship can also be the most pressing occasion to learn how to protect their own heart. Only when a kind person who gives everything sets clear boundaries does that warmth protect them too.
It is the relationship in which the burden most easily falls on one side. It is safer to hold on to your own opinion starting with small things, and, if you keep blaming yourself, to make sure you can hear from people outside the relationship and get help.
Care is needed so that one side's strong control does not leave the child unable to state their own opinion. It is important to let the child experience being accepted as they are, so that they do not doubt their own feelings.
Because of rank, the senior person can easily put emotional pressure on the junior one. It is better to make the boundaries of the work clear, and if unfair treatment keeps happening, to look for a formal procedure rather than endure it alone.
A friendship where one person always accommodates soon wears that person out. It is healthy to ask, now and then, whether this is a relationship where both can give as well as receive.
Whether this is actually your story, the assessment can tell. Measure together and reread this pairing with your real coordinates.