A person will only be controlled if they let themselves be. Most relationships have some degree of give and take, but in one with a control freak, it will be lopsided.
Now, my husband would prefer that I make all the decisions because "I care more about them." This may make me a "control freak" but the truth is I don't want to control this partnership. Someone who is being controlled has some desire to be that way-- maybe then they feel they can't be blamed when something goes wrong because they didn't make the decision. There are other reasons too-- some of them buried deep in the psyche.
The only good kind of "Control Freak" is one who doesn't think about themselves, but focuses on their partner's happiness. But not with resentment-- it can't be a "I did EVERYTHING for YOU!" sort of weapon. It has to be out of love and respect. Someone who will guide the ship with benevolence and concern, putting their partner first. And both people have to feel that they are valued. Even the submissive partner-- that's where most controlled relationships go wrong, I think. They let themselves be controlled (for whatever psychological reason) but resent their partner for being controlling... you can only be controlled if you let yourself.
I try to be the benevolent captain and have at times had to fight my husband to get him to tell me what he WANTS so that we can meet his wants, too. I may be the Captain, but I am nothing without a happy crew. (Though if I was single, I would have a one person skiff and that would be okay, too! Because I am part of a team, I have to consider that, but I don't want it to come off that I woudl somehow think I have less worth if I was single.)