Tell me about alpha males!

[andrewfi]

We read about alpha males and how successful they're supposed to be in many walks of life.

In reality, there are very few such men. Are you an alpha? Do you pretend to be an alpha?
Does it matter?
Do women prefer alpha males?

[Dogsoldier]

Never given much thought to it.
I’m happy in the skin I’m wearing.
As you say, does it really matter?
To those with an inflated ego, I suppose it would.

[NS1]

I suppose I am an Alpha male.
but to be honest never gave it much thought.
I have never read much on the topic and have read
more about it here over the years than anywhere else.

I suspect we are partially designed by the genes we are given,
but in this regard more a product of your environment.
I believe in being who you are and trying to improve on that
constantly through life.

Life and learning are a never ending journey.
Of course until it ends

[msmoby]

I am NOT an 'Alpha male'...

I do not have the physique, I am not a multimillionaire without a care re finances.

I think it is possible to be an Alpha Male and not be an 'egoist'..

Possibly, David Beckham is (was) a good example...?

[dcguyusa]

I am not the alpha male type out the outside, but could be one on the inside like Rambo.   

[Dogsoldier]

I am not the alpha male type out the outside, but could be one on the inside like Rambo.   

I am of the opinion that being an Alpha male is more about brain than brawn.

[Manny]

I am of the opinion that being an Alpha male is more about brain than brawn.

How one is defined as one is open to question, I agree.

Would we recognise it if we are one?

Maybe we dont think we are one, but others think we are?

Maybe we think we are one, but others dont? 

[NS1]

As I have said, never anywhere else in my life has this been a conversation.
Curious as to why people here think it matters?
I suspect you are what you are through genes and experiences.
Could you become alpha male? maybe,I suspect it would be difficult
if you're not wired that way to begin with.

Many people I know do well with women based on how they use what they have.
Trying to be who you are not rarely works and if it does, rarely lasts.
Being the best version of yourself should be the goal. ( I think)

[andrewfi]

It'll help discussions of what such and such thing might or might not be if we know what the term means.

Here you go: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/alpha-male

noun
a male animal having the highest rank in a dominance hierarchy:
Studies show that in spite of their high rank, access to females, etc., baboon alpha males experience a great deal of stress.

the most dominant, powerful, or assertive man in a particular group:
the alpha male of investment bankers.

[Manny]

Even the definition as quoted is confusing.

a male animal having the highest rank in a dominance hierarchy:

Well, as animals, dominance is usually physical. But let's take a professional boxer who is thick as a plank, is he an alpha? I'd suggest not when the bloke who has a few quid, sharp wit and interesting conversation leaves the room with the best looking woman.

the most dominant, powerful, or assertive man in a particular group:

Dominance, power and assertiveness are different things.

Assertive might be just confidence, and be backed up with nothing.

Dominance is subjective; physical dominance or other types of soft power?

Powerful is also subjective; power can be financial, physical, intellectual, influential, etc.

How might one define 'rank' in society?

[NS1]

I agree, it's not a singular thing.
It is multitude of personalties.
Being big is not really a criteria either IMO.

Confidence is likely the biggest attribute, I mean real confidence.
The ability to act under stress, the ability to control a room or group of people.
To command respect with words, personality and actions
Power and money does not always equal those qualities.

the list is endless and it only takes a few small things to take the Alpha out of the male.

[andrewfi]

Where's the confusion? Context escaped us?

If you want to see a bloke make out like a bandit go to an after party following a boxing or similar event. You'll see who the alpha in the room is and it won't be the bloke with the sharp wit!

Watch the md of a retail chain doing store inspections and you'll see the dominant person in the room, he might even be male.

Context is key.

However, more interestingly, there's a case to be made that in humans, as opposed to primates, the concept does not apply. Here's a fast easy read looking at both sides in a simplistic manner: https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2016/oct/10/do-alpha-males-even-exist-donald-trump

The author makes the point that, in humans, those we refer to as Alpha Males are generally the most scary blokes around. That's not what primatology sees as alphas.

How many guys here, who imagine themselves to be alpha males would want to associate with the idea that they are just more scary than some other bloke?

Remember that much of this whole alpha/beta crap sprang from a need to simplify concepts for men who lacked the smarts to find a woman.

So, from my perspective its a bunch of crap. In a given social or business situation there will be men who dominate those around them. The fighter will have pussy going round heeled for his spunk. The businessman will have a coterie of flunkies eager for his recognition and reflected glory.

In human society the whole alpha thing is hooey. The nearest we get to it is the kind of situation I used with the boxer, its about genes, about strong babies, about reproduction and its very direct. In modern society it is also not very useful, not productive and the females who are affected enough to mate with such a person are very unlikely to be good mates for most males of the human species.