An alpha male is a dominant male in a community or group, typically physically strong and respected or feared. They often achieve their status through physical strength or superior intelligence. Alpha males may have multiple sexual partners and are usually well-groomed and excel at sports. Beta males are second-in-command and may take over if the alpha dies. The female counterpart is the alpha female, who may achieve her position through association with an alpha male.
An alpha male is the dominant male in a community or group. Zoologists and related scientists typically use the term to describe high-ranking male animals, but people also apply it to humans, typically referring to grown men rather than boys. Either way, an animal or person with this label is usually an excellent leader who is respected or feared and receives social privileges, such as better access to food or more attention from potential mates.
Main features
In general, an alpha male is physically strong or well built and has certain traits that others, especially females, find beautiful or attractive. He’s not evil per se, but he’s willing to fight aggressively, physically if necessary, for what he has and wants, and to maintain his status. Most of the time, he is confident and is very capable of protecting others in the group.
Some additional features apply for people. Many people associate being the dominant male with money, because a strong financial situation usually allows a person to engage in more activities, meet more people, or acquire things that others want and admire. Potential partners also usually like to see that a man is in a good financial position before committing to a relationship with him. Men with this title are typically very well groomed, like being the center of attention, act both nice and cocky, excel at sports, and are able to get along with many different types of people. Traditionally, others might describe him as a “woman’s man” or “man’s man,” indicating that most women are attracted to him and that most men want to be like him and look to him for behavioral cues.
Ascent to status
Most of the time, alpha males achieve their status as a result of using their physical strength to overwhelm weaker competitors. They also sometimes use superior intelligence to outwit others, which is very common with men due to the fact that many cultures do not promote overt violence – sometimes this manifests as verbal threats or psychological manipulation. A male may also fall into a position of leadership and authority by default, such as if the other males in the group die.
The challenges
In many species, becoming a leading male does not guarantee that an animal can hold that position. Young, strong, or ambitious challengers often try to take on the role, usually by physically fighting for it. These fights can take a huge toll on the alpha, who must constantly be on the defense, and in nature, the injuries sustained can be fatal. Death does not usually occur with men, but it can happen if an argument escalates severely and many individuals are simply unwilling to take the risks and stress associated with the role, despite the rewards that are possible.
Resignation
When one of these males gets older, he may voluntarily step down as the official leader of the group. A good example is a senior businessman who resigns so that his top executive or principal apprentice can take over, but this behavior also occurs in nature. It usually occurs because, at some level, he knows that someone else can do a better job or because he no longer wants leadership responsibility for health or personal reasons.
sexual behavior
The sexual behavior of a dominant male largely depends on the social behavior of the exact species to which he belongs. Some animals, such as wolves and gibbons, form pair relationships that can last for life, and those in a pair generally do not mate with anyone else. Other animals, such as bonobo monkeys and elephant seals, are known for their promiscuity. Many other species fall somewhere in between, with an animal having more than one mate but choosing one it prefers over the others.
With great physical stature, attractiveness, and leadership skills, these males are in a perfect position to choose available mates, who tend to be more willing to mate with them than with other members of the group. They are also usually able to control the ability of other males to mate, which makes more potential partners available and makes it easier for them to form multiple sexual relationships at once.
Some zoologists see the genetically influenced desire to mate as a major reason why males in a group exhibit alpha characteristics, and it is certainly true that being able to be selective or have multiple mates directly influences the number of offspring and the genetic traits that pass. Even so, this concept gets a little confusing with people, because the reasons why being the “top dog” makes someone happy are often psychologically and culturally complex. Men often have other reasons for trying to be dominant, like wanting to impress others or climbing the corporate ladder.
In many societies it is unacceptable to have more than one sexual partner at a time, usually for moral, religious or economic reasons. Additionally, many women prefer sensitive partners who are willing to discuss their feelings, traits not usually associated with dominance. As a result, alpha men who “sleep around” aren’t always free from criticism. Experts have questioned whether these individuals can keep mates because of the way their natural drive conflicts with other social constructs.
Beta males
Most species feature beta males, who are essentially second-in-command. They help the dominant male do whatever he wants or needs to do, and in some species, the beta takes over if the leader dies or can no longer fulfill his duties. In this sense, they may be considered “in training”, but there is no guarantee that they will become the new alpha.
The term “beta” does not have the same connotation for humans as for other animals. People often use it to describe someone who is the exact opposite of an alpha, i.e. a whiny man, who gives up easily, is very sensitive emotionally, and who lacks strength or physical attraction. It is sometimes used as a euphemism for the stereotypical “nerd,” who is generally socially inept and easily overwhelmed.
Female counterpart
The dominant females in a group are alpha females. They often mate and mate with dominant males, usually leading them to their side. Sometimes, however, they take complete leadership for the group, depending on the species and whether there are any males available who could assert a degree of authority. While they can achieve this position through physical, emotional, or verbal force, sometimes they do so simply because an alpha male has selected them as mates, developing leadership by association. A powerful man, for example, might have a “trophy wife,” whom others respect and follow just because she’s married to the alpha.
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