Training Methods

Role-playing Until Role-living

Belief begets action, and repetitive action also begets belief. My slave will be expected to act “as if” a slave overtly, even hyperbolically, until she internalizes a slave mindset. I will reduce some requirements of this “high protocol” for daily life after training, and re-require it whenever I believe she needs reinforcement of her role. Sometimes reducing protocol is to allow her to serve better; for example, she will initially avoid eye contact to reinforce submission and later be encouraged to have eye contact for emotional bonding and to recognize and fulfill my unspoken desires. Sometimes reducing protocol is to accommodate the environment; for example, reinforcing ownership by privately using the third person (“your slave” or “yours”) and accommodating society by publicly using the first person “i” (or collective “we”).

Psychological Basis

My psychological training methods are actively based in direct discussion of reasons for thought patterns (i.e. cognitive behavioral therapy), and passively based in conditioning desired actions (i.e. Adlerian psychology and Skinner’s behaviorism), though I will consider useful tools from any psychological approach, even pseudoscience like neuro-linguistic programming.

Goals

My slave will be expected to attain defined goals; these goals will be specific and measurable with identified deadlines. Intermediate milestones will be provided as an opportunity for guidance toward the final goal as well as for positive reinforcement through a sense of accomplishment and knowledge of pleasing her Master.

I prefer to condition three or less habits at a time; too many simultaneous changes can undermine tranquility and effectiveness. I still prefer to note, albeit not expect/enforce, future changes to avoid conditioning their acceptance and so that the submissive may overachieve my schedule. Nurture and assurance are helpful when knowing more things are expected to change eventually than are expected to change immediately.

Reinforcing Proper Attitudes and Actions

I happily reward good behavior and begrudgingly punish poor behavior. If my slave wants play “punishment” then she will get it – as a reward for good behavior or when I otherwise want to give it to her. Attention is reinforcement and I will reinforce only good behavior. Undesired behavior will be extinguished, not rewarded; I know I can find a completely uninteresting and unappealing punishment when my slave misbehaves. If I wanted to reward misbehavior then I would seek a bratty submissive; instead I plan to reward good behavior as I desire an eager slave.

Rewards

I prefer proactive discipline to reactive punishment; both may help improve actions, however discipline is entirely positive and emotionally edifying. Also, people tend to focus on what gets a response from others. So rewards for good behavior will be the primary means of encouragement.

Correction

Any time I notice something differing from what I desire, I will bring it to my submissive’s attention for correction. Correction will often include inquiry into the reasons why it occurred and explanation of why I want it to be different. Provided a thoroughly submissive mindset, corrections are usually influential enough that no punishment is necessary.

I consider practicing tasks until mastered to be correction, though I understand that some people might perceive that as punishment.

Punishment

As much as I prefer rewards for disciplined action,  I will punish when an action, or even moreso its motivation, is frequent or egregious.

I appreciate funishments as reward or play in a defined scene. Punishments are not funishments; they are intentionally undesirable. The most effective methods may vary per person, and there is merit in the punishment fitting the infraction. Without additional context, some of the most effective methods of punishment are withdrawing attention, withdrawing privileges, and/or wasting time such as requiring mental focus on tedium. An example that incorporates all of these disincentives would be to reduce time doing a desired activity to instead balance a ball on ones nose against the wall.

To maximize effectiveness, punishment will have the following sequence:

  1. If I am angry, I will first take adequate time to calm myself.
  2. I will note the improper action and my disappointment.
  3. I will explain my reasons for the disappointment and question the motivations for the action.
  4. they will spend a moment for reflection on the improper action and what must be changed in the future.
  5. they will apologize for improper action and express what will be done differently in the future.
  6. they will request punishment and atonement.
  7. I will accept their request and pronounce the punishment.
  8. they will receive or perform the punishment.
  9. they will take a moment to consider what will be done in the future.
  10. they will repeat how they will act differently in the future and express gratitude for the punishment.
  11. I will state that I forgive them. At this point the violation is satisfied, they are free to forget all guilt, and they will be expected to act differently in the future.

Choice Decision

My slave must choose to give me her freedom of choice; she may retain opinions and preferences.

As part of training, and as a prerequisite of slavery, my slave must make a “choice decision” to obey me. she will be allowed to have opinions and personal preferences; she will be allowed to act on them when not contradictory to my interests. I want to know opinions, so long as they are respectful, since I want to be supportive and am passionate about learning. I want a happy slave so I am very likely to satisfy her personal preferences where they are not contradictory to our needs or my interests. If a slave prefers to have no opinions or preferences, that is a valid preference, though it is uncommon and certainly unexpected.

My slave’s primary preference, steadfast interest, foremost thought, reason for existence, and ultimate life goal will be pleasing me in everything she does.