Alpha Males

[Rana]

Now whatever is an "Alpha Male" ?

from comments posted in Susans & other places over time one would tend to think that they are some sort of cross between a baboon & a silverback gorilla.  Exhibiting all the worst macho tendencies.

Now I myself reckon that its a sort of pecking order (thou much more sophisticated - we being humans not chooks    ).  And that it comes down to ranking & dominance ranging from - well indeed baboonish gorillas rank on the scale but its like a pair beaten by two of a kind, full house etc 

My son I feel is an alpha male - and I think that the characteristics of one are from everyone else "thank God he's here now everything is going to be OK"

So I reckon that "alpha males"  are a good thing.  Anybody else here have a different opinion on this?  I would be interested to know

Rana

[Buffy]

Hi Rana,

Yep - Alpha Males are a good thing.

Two reasons -

In Nature it is Normal for the most powerful, strongest male to rise to the top (i.e the Alpha Male), think of Gorillas, Wolfs, Lions, even Seals, Walruses. With this strength and power also comes the privledge of mating with the Females. Every Female animal want's to produce offspring with the highest chance of survival, strongest instincts, this come from mating with the Alpha Male.

In Human society, Males have a very hierachical structure, the fittest, cleaverest, strongest most able males will achieve success in business, sport etc. Men have to be competetive to suceed in life. Boy's are brought up to understand it is good to win, there has to be a leader and they play, experiment doing this. They need a STRONG ROLE MODEL. A strong male influence in their lives is essential to this. Typically the male role is the hunter gatherer.

Girls on the other hand by nature at not so competetive, achieving success by co-operation, communication and fulfilling the nurturer and emotional role, offering support and empathy.

So my opinion..... Alpha Males are required, if we wish the male species to remain with us (and I do!)

Buffy

[DawnL]

While Alpha males may be useful in business and sports, in politics and leadership roles we get an overweening sense of entitlement (right down to their attitude towards women), nationalism, territorialism, war, death, and pestilence.  There have long been sexist jokes about keeping women out of power because of their hormones when, the fact is, testosterone may be the most dangerous drug on the planet.  Don't get me wrong, I like men and enjoy their company, but I can scarcely tolerate Alpha males.

Dawn

[Julie Marie]

I've always understood Alpha Males to be just what you described. They are leaders, most often nearly fearless, not really macho because they aren't hung up on maleness, they are just who they are. Any machismo they have comes naturally. There are no Alphas in my family but I recognize one when I meet him. There's a quiet confidence about them. They know what to do without thinking. That's how I see the human Alpha.

[stephanie_craxford]

You probably guessed I would do this.   

In social animals, the alpha male or alpha female is the individual in the community whom the others follow and defer to. Where one male and one female fulfill this role, they are referred to as the alpha pair.

Chimpanzees show deference to the alpha of the community by ritualised gestures such as bowing, allowing the alpha to walk first in a procession, or standing aside when the alpha challenges. Canines also show deference to the alpha pair in their pack, by allowing them to be the first to eat and, usually, the only pair to mate; wolves are a good example of this.

The status of the alpha is generally achieved by means of superior physical prowess. However, in certain highly social species such as the bonobo, a contender can use more indirect methods, such as political alliances, to oust the ruling alpha and take his/her place.

In humans, the alpha male often refers to a man who is powerful or high on the social ladder. In western cultures, the term is somewhat pejorative and describes a man who is overly masculine to the point of arrogance and cold-heartedness.

Steph

[RebeccaFog]

I don't believe in Alpha.

I will not co-operate with an Alpha.

I will not associate with an Alpha.


Your friend,
Becky

[Chaunte]

You probably guessed I would do this.   

In social animals, the alpha male or alpha female is the individual in the community whom the others follow and defer to. Where one male and one female fulfill this role, they are referred to as the alpha pair.

Chimpanzees show deference to the alpha of the community by ritualised gestures such as bowing, allowing the alpha to walk first in a procession, or standing aside when the alpha challenges. Canines also show deference to the alpha pair in their pack, by allowing them to be the first to eat and, usually, the only pair to mate; wolves are a good example of this.

The status of the alpha is generally achieved by means of superior physical prowess. However, in certain highly social species such as the bonobo, a contender can use more indirect methods, such as political alliances, to oust the ruling alpha and take his/her place.

In humans, the alpha male often refers to a man who is powerful or high on the social ladder. In western cultures, the term is somewhat pejorative and describes a man who is overly masculine to the point of arrogance and cold-heartedness.

Steph

Steph,

It depeds on the situation as to whether "alpha male" is pejorative or not.  In a civilian role, I would tend to agree.  In a military or emergency-services role, I would have to take exception. 

I am sure that you knew soldiers that the rest of a unit would readily follow into combat.  WHy, because they were confident in that person.  Emergency services is the same way - one person everyone else has great confidence in.  In both of these cases, it wasn't arogance that made him or her the alpha - it was earned by demonstration of skill and confidence in tight situations.

I have worked for a couple Alphas, and they were an incredible pain in the neck.  Especially a particular Alpha female.

I have done SAR (search and rescue) missions with Alphas, and I would fly into hell and back with them.

Chaunte

[Rana]

Hi Julie,
I agree that is how I would consider a true alpha male.  For certs they are not hung up on machismo, I would reckon machismo is an indicator of uncertainty.  Qualities I believe they posses are a sense of honour, of fairness, and of a sense of humour (though what humour is varies across cultures). I believe them to be worthy people.

Steph, every new pic you post you look better & better   . I disagree with the term being somewhat pejorative, its confusing maleness with macho - two different qualities.  I can remember seeing an item on TV where a male there made the pronouncement that he was an "alpha male".  My thought was yeah, you wish.

Think of a leader you admire & trust - that person if male would probably be an alpha male I think.

Rebecca, it sounds like you have had a bad experience with somebody who considered himself an "alpha male" that dosen't make him one,  or even, in fact, a man

Rana


Posted at: August 05, 2006, 10:43:49 PMgeez even when I preview stuff I still make mistakes - my sloppy phraseology    for maleness as a quality read manlyness instead.  AND manlyness is a quality that is not the sole preserve of men - think Joan of Arc & other heroic women.  The term is outdated I think

Love
Rana

[stephanie_craxford]

Chaunte and Rana (Thanks Rana).

Yep I would generally agree with your comments except that in the military sense, although we like to think that our leaders are qualified, rank often does not bestow or even guarantee leadership skills.  I believe that true alphas' are naturally born that way as opposed to those who are taught as in the case of many military leaders who then become alphas'.  One who comes to mind is Audie Murphy the most decorated soldier of WWII, was he an alpha compared to say the character of Mickey Knox in the movie Natural Born Killers?

Just my thoughts

Steph

[Chaunte]

Agreed. Being an alpha in the military does not mean that you are the senior officer or NCO.  Audie Murphy, I think, does classify as an alpha male.

Chaunte

[Rana]

Hi Steph,

I totally agree, you cannot be taught to be an alpha male, unless its through a process of self discovery & enlightenment - which is an inner journey, it cannot be taught.

I have read about Audie Murphy, an actor and also a highly decorated soldier from WWII.   I dont know how true this is, but I have read that Audie Murphy was never filmed close up because of his eyes,  that he did have deeply unsettling eyes - someone you would fear rather than follow.  He was highly decorated because he killed a lot of Germans or Japanese

Thinking of military leaders, US generals Patton & MacArthur, I would not consider them alpha males unless of the basest sort, self aggrandising bullies.  Eisenhower though would be, and also British general Slim.  I have a great deal of admiration for both of them and they were respected in fields outside of military prowess

Rana

[taylor]

My cat is an alpha male, just ask the dog   

[RebeccaFog]

You're right, Rana.

  The males who I've thought of as Alpha have been denigrating jerks. I guess if the definition of 'Alpha male' is a strong decision maker who can work with a consensus, I can live with that, maybe.
  I think I was associating the word 'Alpha' with the word 'bully' (or jerk).

  I don't really like leaders. I prefer group consensus with several appointed decision makers. Everyone should understand what needs to be done. The decision makers can plan the how it can be done part.

   Also, I think Audie Murphy became a leader by ensuring that the Germans did not take a certain position. That is what made him a leader and a hero. I do believe that his decorations were probably given to him because of the number of people he killed.

   Was Truman an Alpha? He needs a big big medal for the number of people whose deaths he authorized.

   Some people think that George Bush is an Alpha. Is he an Alpha, or is he an imposter? You be the judge.


without intent to incite or to displease,

Becky

[taylor]

Bush is a puppet, nothing Alpha about him.  Just my opinion.

Peace,

Taylor

[Chaunte]

Bush is a puppet, nothing Alpha about him.  Just my opinion.

Peace,

Taylor

I would have to agree.

Chaunte

[RebeccaFog]

Bush is a puppet, nothing Alpha about him.  Just my opinion.

Peace,

Taylor

I would have to agree.

Chaunte

Okay, I get it now.  I definately had some confusion over the definition of Alpha male.


Becky