What is an "Alpha Male?"

Multipass

Experimental Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2005
Posts
102
Media
0
Likes
3
Points
163
Location
London, Canada
Sexuality
99% Straight, 1% Gay
Gender
Male
My definition: An Alpha male is the leader of men, and the selector of women. He raises the survival and replication value of those around him. Men are confident around him, and women desire to be his sexual partner.

Although the concept is most often used when discussing primate societies, it is equally present in ours.

Edit: After reading some responses it seems I'm bringing nothing new to the table. So...

In primate societies the Alpha male used to be stronger than the rest in case he was physically challenged by another. Big muscles were a great indicator of fitness back then (how fit you were to be selected as a mate).

We have now evolved so our brains are the best indicator of fitness. Your brain now controls how much money you make, how socially accepted you will be, and just about everything else.
 

Chrysalis

Experimental Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2006
Posts
447
Media
0
Likes
4
Points
161
Location
Rocky Mountain Region
Sexuality
90% Straight, 10% Gay
Gender
Female
This is a topic I have thought of a lot myself. Likely I could get banned after only a few days but I don't care. Its important stuff.

Some background stats. Today about 55% of college degrees are given to females. In African American community its way way worse. African American females have to marry far below their educational level if they want to marry a black male. White males are now beggining to fall behind white females.

A lot here have very accurately defined alpha male. Chrysalis and Mercurial SEE it clearly.

i would be classically defined as an alpha male. 6'1" 195, fairly muscular, 150 IQ. Goodlooking and very intelligent/athletic, in a room of men I am sure I would be better than most if not all, age included, in any intelligence/athletic event. Great genetics, but thats just blind luck.

Does that make me an alpha male? Nope. Makes me an internet braggart. If that were it it would also make me a loser.

I have been self employed since I was 26. Always met a payroll, not a paycheck. This year I employed 25 people. Thats a pretty valued stat. Have a very high 6 figure maybe this year 7 figure income. Instantly that puts me in a small subset of men. Doesn't make me an alpha male tho. The next thing does make me an alpha.

This learned trait ( as so astutely noted by WRAT) is what separates men from boys, making quick decisive responsible decisions. People, both men and women, are drawn to men (or women) who can lead and make good decisions. Trust me i interview/evaluate lots of people and there are so few that can make a f****** decsion! W/O going into specific detail, occasionally I offer very lucrative business opportunities to well educated (PHD) candidates and OMf***gawd, in todays marketplace it's young women 26-35 years old who are the only ones capable of pulling the trigger and creating valued futures for themselves. Similar aged Men are in retreat.

I had to learn how to make decisions. Or you fail. Be decisive! Learn stuff. I bet I could take any lady on this board shopping and pick out the best clothes for her. BTW i love Jimmy Choo or Manolo Blahnik stilettos, Vera Wang or Badgley/Mischka dresses, Juicy Couture for younger women. Swarovski crystal bra? Yummy. (Now I am showboating)

This is for Gisella. You are right. Learn the world around you, don't destroy it. Go to the Ufizzi, an art museum in Florence Italy or the Met in NY and see and appreciate true beauty. Learn to order dinner for yourself AND your lady for goodness sake. There are 275 great books every man should read per Esquire magazine. Read as many as you can.

The ladies here are very gracious and complimentary, for a big dick site LOL, but I cringe a bit when I see a man post his pics and beg/whine for praise. I instantly think in the back of my mind *loser.* Leaders don't ask for praise, they generate praise. And they admit their errors (doubt Geo. W is here).

Rambling a bit but you may get my drift.

For Studhunter: I have a degree in biology and I get to see a true alpha male at work. I own a small ranch/ranchette in the mountains. Every fall there is a 300 number elk herd on my land. There are a few alpha male bulls (called monarchs) that have female harems of 20-50 females. They spend the entire rutting season defending their females from juvenile males who want some elk pussy. They never get even a few minutes to graze. They run from female to female keeping the lonely spike males off. The larger the harem the more territory they have to defend. So some of the young studs get sneak in to breed and make a few calves. Some of the alphas are so weak from the rut and fucking and defending they die in the winter.

You definitely "get it," Wild Goose Chase.

And have "got it" as well, judging from the fantastic sights in your gallery (still picking jaw up off the floor). :wink:
 

capt. nemo

Experimental Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2006
Posts
45
Media
3
Likes
3
Points
153
Location
Baltimore, Maryland
Sexuality
90% Gay, 10% Straight
Gender
Male
Well. After a quick reading through, I gotta say this is a really silly thread. The expression "alpha male" has, I grant, a role to play as a simple, descriptive term -- if we are talking about chimpanzees or dogs.

It's really funny that "alpha male" has taken on so much ridiculous baggage, becoming jargon that designates a collective fantasy of what all women suppoedly desire, and what all men supposedly want to be. It's evident that we are firmly in the realm of fantasy from the way that each successive "definition" or "description" or "instantiation" of the ALPHA essence by the posters in this thread is more personal and elusive and indirect than the one before....

To me, this pseudo-scientific jargon is painfully heterosexist and normalizing... pointing to a biological basis for everything traditionally "masculine" and, consequently, I guess for everything "feminine" too. Well, how f**ing boring is that?? I do not think that men are from mars and women from venus. Yes, there are real differences between people, but who is to say precisely WHAT those differences should look like? Should all men want to be like John Travolta in Grease and all women like Olivia Newton John? Are they like them, ineluctably, thanks to biology? That's just patently ridiculous....

Example 1, showing tedious gender conformity by striking contrast: any women here want to wear a strap-on and take turns raping alpha ass with me? Chrysalis, you game?

Example 2, showing much much more: Loose Goose Guy thinks that dudes who post pics of themselves are losers because they want to be looked at. HELLO. This is rich, so follow me carefully on this one... There are gay dudes (like MOI) who LOVE to be LOOKED at. Why do you think I primp and parade down 17th street on Saturday night? And why, more importantly, is Goose so afraid of being looked at? Don't be shy, honey, we don't bite....very hard.

To be looked at is to be in a vulnerable position, it's the position that women usually occupy, the object of the sexual gaze (thank you laura mulvey), and straight men often feel uncomfortable in that role. Is that "alpha" confidence, or is it just stupid latent sexism and homophobia?

I really don't think that gender roles are carved in biological stone. And from experience I know that it's WAY more fun to be TOTALLY different in different scenes. Now, if you can't do that, or if you think that you're only play-acting when you do switch it up, then I'm sorry you are so boring....
 

Lordpendragon

Experimental Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2004
Posts
3,814
Media
0
Likes
18
Points
258
Sexuality
No Response
Personally I would consider SH's definition man to be an ass.

So, interesting as women's views are, men should define their own aspirational qualities and be themselves. :eek:
 

naughty

Sexy Member
Joined
May 21, 2004
Posts
11,232
Media
0
Likes
38
Points
258
Location
Workin' up a good pot of mad!
Sexuality
100% Straight, 0% Gay
Gender
Female
IF you really want to see the definition of Alpha male in action, rent the movie, "Wolf" with Jack Nicholson... I remember when I first saw it in the theater I was there watching it beside an "Alpha" male. Ironic that I had to point out the latest theory in business hierarchy to him....
 

ClaireTalon

Experimental Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2005
Posts
1,917
Media
0
Likes
16
Points
183
Age
60
Location
Puget Sound
Sexuality
100% Straight, 0% Gay
Gender
Female
It's really funny that "alpha male" has taken on so much ridiculous baggage, becoming jargon that designates a collective fantasy of what all women suppoedly desire, and what all men supposedly want to be. It's evident that we are firmly in the realm of fantasy from the way that each successive "definition" or "description" or "instantiation" of the ALPHA essence by the posters in this thread is more personal and elusive and indirect than the one before....

If I may point out the original post of this thread by Chrsyalis, she asked us ladies what our ideas of an alpha male are. We are not hunting for an exact biological/socio-psychological definition here.

The ideas that showed up so far told me one thing: They all are in some way the characterisitics of an animal group's alpha male transferred to the position a man can have in a group of people. Of course, the social construction of an animal group can't be fitted 100% on a group of humans, but still there are some common points. The rest leads to some more or less abstruse outgrows. But that's more important if we go back to the issue of exact definitions, not ideas and perceptions.
 

LaurenceO

Just Browsing
Joined
Dec 12, 2006
Posts
64
Media
3
Likes
0
Points
226
Location
nyc
Sexuality
99% Straight, 1% Gay
Gender
Male
(Glad to see the dual definitions here, re: Chrys & Merc.)This is a nice break from the talks about size for a minute. And I guaruntee you some "short dude" will try to beat me up on these facts and opinions here. Just watch...

But, all "psuedo-science" aside, I was reading about wolves and how the male and female alphas prevent any other pack members from breeding, period. End of story. If others want to breed, they have to leave and form their own pack. The scientific causes sighted were more economic than all the other reasons so often focused on. The studies showed that there is simply not enough food to feed a pack that is breeding mulitiple litters from multiple pack members. Hence the process of power struggle unfolds for position as top-dog. Now back to the subjective or "psudo-science". In humans, the more 'animalistic alpha behavior' similar to that in wolves and whatever other category, functions importantly in lesser "developed" or more impoverished societies. Not to leave out developing nations such as Rome at the time of Julius Ceasar or Napoleonic France. But autocratic nations throghout history all crash and burn hard. The long-term survivors in advanced civilizations thus far are the democratic republics - not the hierarchical nations and cultures. And not "by a nose" but in "astronimcal" proportion.

Back to penis size for a second: Napoleon as alpha male is incontestible - and yet, you want to talk about one short little dude! Quick reference to AmyGirl's remarks too - one should think in the more developed nations, would-be alphas are preoccupied with higher minded goals and going about them in a more democratic fashion. There is a bit of a double standard in the US over healthy definitions of potent or positive male behavior following some post-feminist confusion. But we only need to get an ear full of rapp/hip hop to determine wether "old school" alpha behavior is evolving or devolving in our culture. Safe to say, and sientifically sound opinion here - it's a confusing time for men in any race or class.

Brief note on personal experience: I can't self-proclaim myself alpha or beta one way or the other. I think it's a relative term and changes in different areas and times of one's life - especially if a person has any level of complexity to themselves or lives in any type of advanced or complex society. But I can identify several fellow male friends who are surely "woud-be alphas" if put under stress or living under harsher times. We enjoy and tolerate one another because we are civilized, cooperative, and productive people. "no man is an island' etc. I believe I also come from a family of "would-be alpha" males and females. I have observed them over the years as they have discovered and established their own little corners of the world. But they don't really behave like alphas in the animal sense. They are just clear individuals, not assholes.

The two definitions are important. Thanks for posting. It's probably essentially healthy to maintain some primal instincts. But crucial to look ahead and to "get over ourselves". There are 'astronomical' issues and concerns out there that transcend the most prominent and charismatic among us.
I'm glad you used both definitions for alpha male because I think there's a difference in meaning although each are accurate in description. I think of the animal kingdom reference as the more aggressive alpha male definition. Alpha males lead the pack and reign by using physical strength to dominate others whereas the astronomical reference simply describes how the alpha male "shines" brighter than all others without use of force.

I tend to be attracted to the "Astronomical" Alpha male rather than the "Animal kingdom" Alpha male. Men who are innately talented, curious, have varied interests, walk to the beat of their own drum, wholly unique-often not knowing just how brightly they shine-capture my attention more than those who seek power by gain (money, possessions, etc), more prestige, popularity, or a driven by a singular goal.

I've noticed either type often possesses the ability to walk into a room and gain the immediate attention of everyone but often for different reasons including the ones I listed above. The "Animal Kingdom" Alpha male seeks the attention he receives while the "Astronomical" Alpha male doesn't necessarily seek attention from others but receives it anyway.
 

Chrysalis

Experimental Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2006
Posts
447
Media
0
Likes
4
Points
161
Location
Rocky Mountain Region
Sexuality
90% Straight, 10% Gay
Gender
Female
Example 1, showing tedious gender conformity by striking contrast: any women here want to wear a strap-on and take turns raping alpha ass with me? Chrysalis, you game?

No, Nemo, I'm not game...but it has nothing to do with "tedious conformity to gender roles." :rolleyes:

It has to do with the fact that the idea just doesn't turn me on. You might be surprised to learn that I do get turned on by images/ideas of:

1) Guys having sex with other guys (oral or anal)
2) Women stimulating men anally (but not with a strap-on)
3) Going down on another woman
4) Tying down a man and taking the dominant role

However, my own personal reaction to the sight of anyone wearing a strap-on is to laugh, rather than to be aroused. I mean no disrespect to people who are aroused by it. But the fact that I don't desire to have a penis (or to wear a fake one) means nothing about my willingness or unwillingness to experiment sexually, or to reverse or interchange gender roles.

NOW, having said that, what if I weren't turned on by any of the above? What if the only things that aroused me were very traditional sexual activities? Would I somehow be inferior to you? I hope that's not what you're implying.

I've always believed in the right of every human being to live out their sexuality as it is. I also don't believe any orientation or proclivity is superior/inferior to another.

Apparently, though, you don't extend that kind of respect to exclusively heterosexual men or women -- instead, it appears that you lump anyone different from you into the "boring" category. Now that is tedious.
 

naughty

Sexy Member
Joined
May 21, 2004
Posts
11,232
Media
0
Likes
38
Points
258
Location
Workin' up a good pot of mad!
Sexuality
100% Straight, 0% Gay
Gender
Female
Ok,

My definition of an alpha male is a man who clearly in one or more areas distinquishes himself from the pack, so to speak.... In relation to females, he is confident enough in himself not to abuse the power bestowed upon him. He is protective when needed, but not stiffling, He takes care of his responsibilities. He is accomplished in his area of endeavor. He is a man of vision and direction, in leadership. He can be either an introvert or an extrovert. He uses his abilities and influence for the greater good and not necessarily for selfish gain.
This being said, many of these characteristics would not necessarily place someone at the top of the financial pecking order. However, I happen to place integrity over gain as a desired attribute....









If I may point out the original post of this thread by Chrsyalis, she asked us ladies what our ideas of an alpha male are. We are not hunting for an exact biological/socio-psychological definition here.

The ideas that showed up so far told me one thing: They all are in some way the characterisitics of an animal group's alpha male transferred to the position a man can have in a group of people. Of course, the social construction of an animal group can't be fitted 100% on a group of humans, but still there are some common points. The rest leads to some more or less abstruse outgrows. But that's more important if we go back to the issue of exact definitions, not ideas and perceptions.
 

Wyldgusechaz

Experimental Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2006
Posts
1,258
Media
0
Likes
3
Points
183
Sexuality
100% Straight, 0% Gay
Gender
Male
i am really harsh right now on my own sex. Very very harsh. Like I said before an alpha male is a man who gets shit done. i track productivity and performance for some really well trained highly educated professionals. I got the stats cold in black and white. Young women are out performing young men in virtually every phase of business productivity. If it weren't for the *mommy track* I could envision most companies being run by women in about 20 years.

I want to share a story Absolutely true. I opened an extremely well paying ($200K) position to any qualified candidate. The person who stepped up to the plate was a young mother breast feeding her 6 month old baby. All the male applicants could not make a decision. This mom, pumping her breast at lunch and changing diapers at night set a productivity record in her 2nd month and we paid her $46000 for the month. If this were an isolated instance I would chalk it up to one exceptional female but its not. i can quote stat after stat. Girls are the majority of valedictorians at school, they get the most college degrees, and they get the best jobs.

The prime minister of Germany is female, the PM of Chile is female, of Liberia, of jamaica. et al.

There are lots of alpha males out there only they are girls. Black males are a complete disaster. They are being relegated to afterthoughts in the world around us. They may have big dicks but they are falling so far behind world wide its tragic. Where are todays 12 year old girls going to find confident productive men to date and marry when most boys fall further and further behind.

I read a book about George Mcgovern. He was a liberal democrat Senator from Minnesota I think. he flew B-29 super fotresses over Germany in world WarII. The average age of a bomber crew was 19!!! 19 year old boys are so lost today compared to girls I can't imaging them being able to do anything like fly a plane thru anti aircraft 500 miles and not F things up.

I am usually conservative in my voting but the strongest decision maker in Congress is Hilary Clinton. I have watched and she gets stuff done. The biggest balls in the Administration are Condelezza Rice's.

I got a motto. *If you can change a tire you can change a diaper.* Today girls can do both, boys can't do either. having a big dick is the least thing a man needs to be an alpha male. What good is a big cock (ok maybe once in awhile) if its attached to a man to whom you are better than in every way.
 

Wyldgusechaz

Experimental Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2006
Posts
1,258
Media
0
Likes
3
Points
183
Sexuality
100% Straight, 0% Gay
Gender
Male
Ok,

My definition of an alpha male is a man who clearly in one or more areas distinquishes himself from the pack, so to speak.... In relation to females, he is confident enough in himself not to abuse the power bestowed upon him. He is protective when needed, but not stiffling, He takes care of his responsibilities. He is accomplished in his area of endeavor. He is a man of vision and direction, in leadership. He can be either an introvert or an extrovert. He uses his abilities and influence for the greater good and not necessarily for selfish gain.
This being said, many of these characteristics would not necessarily place someone at the top of the financial pecking order. However, I happen to place integrity over gain as a desired attribute....

Damn thats really good, Naughty. Knowing my bias against men I am not surprised it was written by a female.
 

Skull Mason

Expert Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2006
Posts
3,035
Media
6
Likes
110
Points
193
Location
Dirty Jersey
Sexuality
100% Straight, 0% Gay
Gender
Male
An alpha-male is a true Bodhisattva (or Mason if you like :biggrin1: ) :

He who has attained Enlightenment, but postpones Nirvana in order to enlighten others.
 

Chrysalis

Experimental Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2006
Posts
447
Media
0
Likes
4
Points
161
Location
Rocky Mountain Region
Sexuality
90% Straight, 10% Gay
Gender
Female
i am really harsh right now on my own sex. Very very harsh. Like I said before an alpha male is a man who gets shit done. i track productivity and performance for some really well trained highly educated professionals. I got the stats cold in black and white. Young women are out performing young men in virtually every phase of business productivity. If it weren't for the *mommy track* I could envision most companies being run by women in about 20 years.

I want to share a story Absolutely true. I opened an extremely well paying ($200K) position to any qualified candidate. The person who stepped up to the plate was a young mother breast feeding her 6 month old baby. All the male applicants could not make a decision. This mom, pumping her breast at lunch and changing diapers at night set a productivity record in her 2nd month and we paid her $46000 for the month. If this were an isolated instance I would chalk it up to one exceptional female but its not. i can quote stat after stat. Girls are the majority of valedictorians at school, they get the most college degrees, and they get the best jobs.

The prime minister of Germany is female, the PM of Chile is female, of Liberia, of jamaica. et al.

There are lots of alpha males out there only they are girls. Black males are a complete disaster. They are being relegated to afterthoughts in the world around us. They may have big dicks but they are falling so far behind world wide its tragic. Where are todays 12 year old girls going to find confident productive men to date and marry when most boys fall further and further behind.

I read a book about George Mcgovern. He was a liberal democrat Senator from Minnesota I think. he flew B-29 super fotresses over Germany in world WarII. The average age of a bomber crew was 19!!! 19 year old boys are so lost today compared to girls I can't imaging them being able to do anything like fly a plane thru anti aircraft 500 miles and not F things up.

I am usually conservative in my voting but the strongest decision maker in Congress is Hilary Clinton. I have watched and she gets stuff done. The biggest balls in the Administration are Condelezza Rice's.

I got a motto. *If you can change a tire you can change a diaper.* Today girls can do both, boys can't do either. having a big dick is the least thing a man needs to be an alpha male. What good is a big cock (ok maybe once in awhile) if its attached to a man to whom you are better than in every way.

So, WGC, what do you think is the reason for the plight of modern young men, and what could be done to improve the situation?

(BTW I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm a supervisor in my own workplace and have been well recognized throughout my career, precisely because I have the "alpha male" traits we've been describing. Also, I'm currently not at work... I don't work Mondays. I'm saying this because the best leaders I've known don't expect others to do anything they are not willing to do themselves. If I expect others not to surf the Internet from work, then I don't do it either).
 

naughty

Sexy Member
Joined
May 21, 2004
Posts
11,232
Media
0
Likes
38
Points
258
Location
Workin' up a good pot of mad!
Sexuality
100% Straight, 0% Gay
Gender
Female
Wyld,

I think we happen to have a few Black Alpha males here on the board right now. Lex is one of them. It is a tragedy that there seems to be such a discrepancy in the success and productivity of males vs females but that is a whole other conversation. What you were fearing for 12 year olds is now reality and has been for quite some time in the Black community. However I will NOT settle. My idea of an Alpha male was based upon my father, brother, cousins and friends who give me hope that there are quality men out here....













i am really harsh right now on my own sex. Very very harsh. Like I said before an alpha male is a man who gets shit done. i track productivity and performance for some really well trained highly educated professionals. I got the stats cold in black and white. Young women are out performing young men in virtually every phase of business productivity. If it weren't for the *mommy track* I could envision most companies being run by women in about 20 years.

I want to share a story Absolutely true. I opened an extremely well paying ($200K) position to any qualified candidate. The person who stepped up to the plate was a young mother breast feeding her 6 month old baby. All the male applicants could not make a decision. This mom, pumping her breast at lunch and changing diapers at night set a productivity record in her 2nd month and we paid her $46000 for the month. If this were an isolated instance I would chalk it up to one exceptional female but its not. i can quote stat after stat. Girls are the majority of valedictorians at school, they get the most college degrees, and they get the best jobs.

The prime minister of Germany is female, the PM of Chile is female, of Liberia, of jamaica. et al.

There are lots of alpha males out there only they are girls. Black males are a complete disaster. They are being relegated to afterthoughts in the world around us. They may have big dicks but they are falling so far behind world wide its tragic. Where are todays 12 year old girls going to find confident productive men to date and marry when most boys fall further and further behind.

I read a book about George Mcgovern. He was a liberal democrat Senator from Minnesota I think. he flew B-29 super fotresses over Germany in world WarII. The average age of a bomber crew was 19!!! 19 year old boys are so lost today compared to girls I can't imaging them being able to do anything like fly a plane thru anti aircraft 500 miles and not F things up.

I am usually conservative in my voting but the strongest decision maker in Congress is Hilary Clinton. I have watched and she gets stuff done. The biggest balls in the Administration are Condelezza Rice's.

I got a motto. *If you can change a tire you can change a diaper.* Today girls can do both, boys can't do either. having a big dick is the least thing a man needs to be an alpha male. What good is a big cock (ok maybe once in awhile) if its attached to a man to whom you are better than in every way.