We have all heard the term “alpha male” and love thinking that we also might just be seen as an alpha.
But what does it really mean?
Where does it come from?
And is there even a place for an alpha male is today’s world?
These are all the topics we will cover in this article.
The alpha male has been around for decades in human society, and is often referred to in films and TV, with many positive and negative stigmas being attached to the term.
So let’s get started, and discover the world of alpha males!
What Is An Alpha Male?
In simple terms, an alpha male is seen as the male who is at the top of the socio sexual hierarchy.
He is seen to have a high level of sexual and social status, and is admired by most other men.
Men want to be him, women want to be with him.
The ultimate leader of the pack, the one 99% of guys look up to.
This is the simple, easy definition of what an alpha is all about.
Alpha Male vs Sigma Male
If you know what a sigma male is, then you’ll be able to guess that an alpha male is basically almost the opposite of what a sigma male is all about.
Whereas sigmas like to see themselves as lone wolves who walk to the beat of their own drum, alphas like to be amongst other men, leading the way.
They love being at the top of the social hierarchy, and status plays an important part in their lives.
Within a social group where an alpha is present, you’ll rarely find a sigma male, because they are difficult to control and prefer to do their own thing.
Having said that, there are a few common traits and key differences between alphas and sigmas.
Let’s take a look at them below!
Common Traits Between Alphas & Sigmas
Some common similarities between alpha and sigma males include:
- Self confidence is at a high level
- Seen as attractive by others
- Possess leadership qualities
- High level of intelligence
Sigma males could go down the path of becoming alpha males if they choose to.
They definitely possess the qualities needed.
But for most, the life of a sigma is just too much of an attractive way of life to give up.
Sigma males do not want to be in the position of the alpha.
They don’t want to be at the top of some sort of social ladder, where many people look up to him.
Main Differences Between Alphas & Sigmas
Below are a few ways in which alpha males are different to sigma males:
- Sigma has no reason to maintain any type of appearance, whereas an alpha does
- Alphas are more comfortable being in a group environment, whereas a sigma prefers being alone
- An alpha needs to rise to the top of any social ladder
- A lot more dependent on others
- Seeks out a lot of friends
- Alphas in general do not like sigmas, as they represent being more alone and free thinking
The differences are pretty obvious, but they are still interesting.
If you think you might be an alpha male, then keep on reading!
Let’s check out some of the common signs you might just be an alpha!
Where On The Socio Sexual Hierarchy Does The Alpha Male Fit?
The alpha male is the leader, and naturally he sits at the top of the socio sexual hierarchy.
As you see below, the sigma male sits outside the hierarchy, whilst the alpha sits at the top!
How Do Alpha Males Act?
As we saw in the above section, alphas sit at the top of the socio sexual hierarchy.
So it’s pretty obvious that an alpha is a confident man.
They not only exude confidence, but are also really good at making decisions, and not allowing other opinions drown out their hunger for achieving success.
Alphas have great self respect, and actually also have a lot of respect for others!
What Is An Alpha Male Personality?
Whilst every man is different, there are definitely a few personality traits that most alphas share.
An alpha is a bold and self confident, and will do whatever needed to get things done.
He likes to lead, and likes being the one other guys look up to.
One does need to recognise that being around an alpha is not for everyone, as some men’s personalities will always clash with that of an alpha.
12 Signs You Might Be An Alpha Male
Below are a few signs of an alpha male.
You might be able to use these signs and traits to determine if you are an alpha or not.
Let’s get started!
#1: Enjoy Being In Control
An alpha won’t be able to just sit back and let decisions get made for him.
Control is quite important to him, both in his career and in his personal life.
An alpha is usually good at getting people to side with him, so swaying decisions in his favor comes quite naturally.
On top of that, they need to make sure that most of their life is in order.
Alphas are goal oriented, and have clear plans of how things should go.
Very rarely will you see an alpha become completely rattled emotionally.
He is in control of his life, and of his emotions.
#2: Status Is Important To Him
Alphas are extremely aware of status.
How others perceive them is important, and they like to give off the impression of confidence and success.
They are aware of the social hierarchies that exist within social groups, and are attracted to this.
On top of that, an alpha likes to show off their status.
#3: Extroverted
This won’t come as any surprise, as it is hard to imagine a classic alpha male being introverted and quiet!
However, you do get alpha males that start off as introverts, and slowly become extroverted.
Because alphas are so fascinated by the social environment, it is natural for them to be extroverts in order to work their way up the social hierarchy.
#4: Usually Get Their Way
This sign dove tails on top of #1, where control is important for an alpha male.
With the ability to make big decisions and to manipulate situations do go in his favor, it is fair to say that an alpha usually gets his way.
I would say there are a few attributes which lead to the alhpa normally getting his way.
Being in control, being a natural leader, being in control of his emotions and being goal oriented all contribute to this.
#5: Leader
Alphas like being at the top, and with this comes a natural ability to lead from the front.
It’s very unlikely that you will come across an alpha male that is content or even happy to follow.
They want to lead the pack!
An alpha wants to be seen as the top guy, and enjoy all the responsibilty that comes with it.
Don’t use this as a misunderstanding of how an alpha’s mind work.
They aren’t just obsessed on having the title of being the leader, but they are also really interested in getting the best out of their group.
#6: Goal Oriented
Alpha males are naturally goal oriented.
They strive to achieve success, both in whatever career path they choose and in their personal lives.
Alphas are hard working, and will do whatever is needed to succeed.
The alpha knows what he wants, and sets clearly defined short term and long term goals which he plans to achieve.
Alphas are not easily distracted, and can actually be pretty motivational to be around. Especially in a work environment.
#7: Don’t Mind Conflict
Most people shy away from conflict.
I think we can all relate to this to a certain extent.
We have definitely all found ourselves in a situation where we just want it to end, and we are willing to do whatever is needed to avoid any potential conflict.
An alpha male doesn’t need to shy away from conflict.
In fact, he will happily tackle it head on.
If someone challenges him, he will happily stand his ground.
But don’t confuse an alpha’s ability to not shy away from conflict with him being a bully.
Alphas are usually pretty reasonable, and just want what is best for the group.
#8: Competitive
An alpha is naturally competitive.
I think this sign of an alpha male is quite obvious.
Just as alphas in the wild compete with one another and have that natural competitive edge, the same goes with humans.
Alphas want to succeed.
They want to climb up the ladder, get that work promotion, increase their quality of lives and those around them.
Therefore it’s normal for alphas to be the ones that win competitions and get those work promotions.
#9: Protective Of People Close To Him
Alphas will definitely feel protective of those people close to him or in his social circle.
Be it his co workers, employees, friends or family members, he will happily stop doing whatever it is he is doing in order to help them!
If you know an alpha, then you will know they generally do give off a protective vibe. And this adds to why being want to be around him.
#10: Others Look Up To Him
Based on his naturally leadership, protectiveness and being seen as someone others should follow, it is only normal that many others look up to alpha males.
Since an alpha is usually successful both at work and in his personal life, it is easy to see why people will see his life as attractive, and why they might strive to be like him.
#11: Confidence
An alpha male will always be confident.
In fact, they come across as some of the most confident people you will ever meet.
Some might call it arrogance, and they maybe are correct, but you’ll never meet an alpha male that doesn’t exude the ultimate confidence.
#12: They Are Successful With Women
If you take a look at the above 11 signs of an alpha male, then it’s pretty easy to come to the conclusion that an alpha is going to be successful when it comes to dating.
When they are in their single years, you could definitely see them as being “players”.
But an alpha definitely has his way with women. They want to be with him. Men want to be him.
The Truth About Alpha Males
Personally, I think alpha males are often misunderstood.
When a lot people hear the term “alpha male”, they immediately think of an arrogant, bullying type of man.
A guy with his chest puffed out, ready to walk over whoever is needed in order to get ahead.
But in fact, this isn’t exactly the honest truth.
Common characteristics in alphas usually does include the following:
- Strong
- Intimidating
- Confident
- Ambitious & motivated
But a true alpha by its definition is not only these things. They also include the following characteristics:
- Caring
- Loving
- Kind
- Generous
- Thinks about others in his group
If you think you are an alpha, then thinking of yourself as top dog isn’t really the meaning of being an alpha.
Yes the alpha wants to be the leader of the pack. He wants to be looked up upon. And he wants the responsibility of making the big decisions.
But he also cares about his co workers, his friends and his family.
He will try help when possible, and try do what’s best for those around him.
An alpha can be empathetic, and very caring.
So from my point of view, alphas are often misunderstood, and there is a bit of negativity that surrounds the term.
Benefits Of Being An Alpha Male
Of course there are many benefits of being an alpha male.
But if you do not see yourself as an alpha, then it shouldn’t matter. It’s not something everyone wants to identify with, or even has to.
Below are just a few benefits that come with being an alpha:
- Respect from others
- Professional success
- Relationship success
- People want to impress the alpha, which helps him even more in his social life and in his professional life
- Higher status
Drawbacks Of Being An Alpha Male
Whilst we often to tend to believe that being an alpha is all glory and success, there are actually a few drawbacks that come with it as well.
Looking back at the socio hierarchy, we see that the alpha sits at the top.
The buck always stops with him. And whenever someone needs help, advice or whatever, they come to him.
This, however, can take its toll on the alpha.
What happens when the alpha is the one in need? Where does he go? Who does he call for advice or help?
Being the top dog is great, but at some point you cannot be the top dog anymore. This is where things for an alpha can get tricky.
For me, this is one of the biggest drawbacks that comes with being an alpha male.
Awesome Alpha Male Quotes
We all love quotes.
Whether it’s morning coffee quotes, quotes about manhood, or even a few epic inspirational quotes, there can never be enough!
Below are a few of the best alpha male quotes I could find:
I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do! That is character!
Theodore Roosevelt
Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect
Ralph Waldo Emerson
The King eats first
Sean Walen
Don’t expect to be motivated every day to get out there and make things happen. You won’t be. Don’t count on motivation. Count on Discipline
Jocko Willink
If nobody hates you, nobody knows you
Grant Cardone
A harmless man is not a good man. A good man, is a very, very dangerous man who has it under voluntary control
Jordan Peterson
I don’t stop when I’m tired, I stop when I’m done.
David Goggins
Haters are all failures. It’s 100% across the board. No one who is truly brilliant at anything is a hater.
Joe Rogan
We are all self-made, but only the successful will admit it.
Earl Nightingale
Alpha males don’t follow the crowd.
Asad Meah
Conclusion
Now that you know the signs of being an alpha male, and some of the traits that come with it, you can ask yourself whether you like this type of guy.
Could you see yourself as being an alpha?
Or perhaps you have a friend that is an alpha?
Personally I see myself as more of a sigma male, and prefer it this way!