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Dec 4, 2014 · From James Dean to James Bond, these are the men who are perceived to be leaders of the pack. But is there really such a thing as a human alpha male? Scientists have their doubts.
- Overview
- Alpha Male
- Beta Male
- Gamma Male
- Delta Male
- Zeta Male
- Sigma Male
- Omega Male
- Keeping Perspective
If you’ve been online recently, you may have heard phrases like “beta” and “sigma" male tossed around. While these terms may (quite literally) sound like a foreign language (because they're Greek), they’re actually pretty simple monikers that pop culture sites (like Vox, Reddit, and Twitter) use to describe various types of men. There are 7 main personality types, each with its own unique strengths. Keep reading to learn each type of guy’s best traits and careers. By the time you’re done, you’ll have all kinds of nu information (pun intended)!
Alpha males are fearless trailblazers who love to be in control while beta males are kind, gentle souls who prioritize personal connections.
Sigma males are rebellious leaders with lots of life experience while delta males are responsible companions who you want by your side.
Zeta males are nonconformist creatives, gamma males are charismatic nomads, and omega males are sharp intellectuals with boundless ideas.
Alpha males are strong-willed leaders who love to take charge.
Exuding charm and machismo, they’re known for their natural confidence and exceptional leadership abilities. Anecdotally, alpha males are “the bad boy” of the male ecosystem. They know what they want, never back down from a fight, and aren’t afraid of making waves to obtain their goals.
CEO, manager, military general, politician
Examples of alpha males in pop culture:
If you’re an alpha male, your will and confidence are admirable. Just get comfortable
every now and again. Great leaders build great relationships. Learn to meet people where they're at and help them open up to you.
Beta males are extremely kind and down to earth.
Shyer and more reserved, beta males value personal relationships over material wealth or career achievements. Pop culture suggests they’re great conversationalists and have a lot of success domestically. They’re often associated with happy, long-term marriages and children that adore them. Betas are communicative, creative, and make great romantic partners.
doctor, nurse, social worker, teacher
If you’re a beta male, you have no issue creating meaningful friendships. But remember that you deserve just as much as you give. Be cautious of people taking advantage of you and don’t be afraid to
Gamma males are the life of the party.
Equally creative and adventurous, they’re often portrayed as fun-loving men of culture. They love to travel and believe their purpose in life is to have fun, rich, fulfilling experiences (ideally in exotic locations). Loud and bombastic, they’re constantly on the move and can create powerful friendships wherever they go.
actor, event coordinator, pilot, travel agent
If you’re a gamma male, your adventures are probably life-changing, but give yourself time to settle down every once in a while. Staying still provides clarity and focus and, since you can create fun wherever you go, you don’t need to always be moving to enjoy yourself.
Delta males are very responsible and keep the world moving.
Highly adaptable, deltas are known for their competence and work ethic rather than their leadership and ambition. Delta males love learning new skills for the sake of improving themselves, not for power or extrinsic successes. Because of this, they often have a very healthy work-life balance. They’re dependable and unpretentious. Every male friend group benefits from delta males.
If you’re a delta male, your work often speaks for itself. People trust you, so consider
and taking initiative at work; you’ll be rewarded for it and won’t necessarily need to be in the spotlight.
Zeta males are one-of-a-kind progressives.
There’s a reason the zeta male is the least talked about personality type in pop culture. They’re rare nonconformists who don’t care what other people think. They know themselves and refuse to change to fit into the rigid social standards of society. Zeta males are fierce creatives who blaze new paths for themselves and others.
The Fault in Our Stars
If you’re a zeta male, your ability to march to the beat of your own drum is inspiring. Work on
communicating your ideas more effectively
People want to hear your unique POV and the easier it is to understand, the more you’ll change their minds for the better.
Sigma males are confident mentors who play by their own rules.
They have all the confidence of alphas, but aren’t interested in power or social status. They have enough life experience to follow their own moral compass and spend their time helping other people discover their inner power. Sigma men’s natural wit, intuition, and sense of persuasion earn them the respect of their peers (though they’re comfortable enough in themselves not to need it).
Omega males are skilled introverts who don’t need external validation.
Pop culture portrays them as the shyer, more reserved yin to the zeta male’s yang. They’re independent and very comfortable in their own company. They’d rather spend time coming up with (usually brilliant) new ideas and inventions of their own instead of socializing with others. They have uncouth but delightful senses of humor and their theories often change the world for the better.
Try to be your best self instead of turning into someone you're not.
For example, instead of trying to transform into an alpha when it's not your style, play to your strengths while brushing up on your weaknesses. Try to become a better version of the man you already are.
Set specific goals if you're working on self-improvement. "Be more sigma" is vague. "I'm going to fight negative self-talk" or "I'm going to improve my listening skills" give you direction.
Sometimes, people focus too much on whether a man is dominant. But traits like listening, humility, helpfulness, and emotional intelligence are important for your success in work, romance, and more.
Don't take these personality types too seriously.
Much like horoscopes or MBTI, they're an idea people came up with to create broad categories of people. They don't have a scientific basis.
Mar 23, 2022 · Dating an alpha: What to expect. “Alpha personalities are… confident, charismatic, goal-directed, intelligent, and self-motivated,” says Dr. John Tholen, a retired psychologist and author of ...
- Steven Rowe
- Self Respect. This is the concept around which every other trait of the Alpha Male revolves. In today’s culture, self-respect is all too often confused with Ego.
- No Such Thing as Failure. Men at the top of the pecking order are not those who have never known disappointment or what we would term “failure.” The crucial difference between these men and others is often a matter of perspective and also perseverance.
- Grace and Assurance. While there are many sources that will emphasize physicality and the ability to fight in an Alpha Male, perhaps it might be helpful to see it from another perspective.
- Real Men Are Well Read. Now, you may not be an intellectual, and that’s okay. Being an Alpha isn’t about how much education you have, good grades in school, or even how many of the “great works” you’ve read.
People also ask
Is James Bond an alpha male?
Are alpha males'real men'?
What is the difference between alpha male and beta male?
What should you know about dating an alpha male?
Apr 11, 2024 · Are you dating an alpha male and don't understand him? Discuss it with a relationship therapist. What is an alpha male? The American Psychological Association defines an alpha male as the most powerful or dominant male in a group, with preferred access to resources such as food and available mating partners.
Dec 10, 2015 · “Alpha” males are those at the top of the social status hierarchy. They have greater access to power, money, and mates, which they gain through physical prowess, intimidation, and domination. Alphas are typically described as the “real men.”
Males Are Built to Bond. Without denying the impact Western society has on its male members, it certainly is not a necessary or inevitable outcome that boys will not bond with each other.
