The Alpha Male, Beta Male, Flimsy Science, Hierarchy Analysis And Further Abuses Of The English Language

The term, "beta male" is perhaps the most frequently misused term of this era. A beta is not a wimp, a pansy, a loser, an endomorph, an ectomorph, a coward, or a man of low testosterone. Ironically, beta males tend to be the men we most respect for their displays of manhood. They tend to be the picture, the example, the prototype of those things we associate with manliness.

In a hierarchy, and humans are hierarchical animals, there three types: alphas, betas and omegas. The alphas are the leaders who pursue upward mobility. The betas are those who accept and are comfortable in a subordinate position. Omegas are more complicated.

Omegas tend to avoid hierarchy as much as possible but often find themselves in yet another org chart. Things being equal they would probably rather be an alpha than a beta but their lives are an ongoing struggle to escape the herd altogether. Bruce Lee was not a pansy. Nor was Muhammad Ali. They were not prototypical omegas but they were omegas nonetheless.

Alpha males are easy to understand. They have to be the top dog. They would prefer to command a struggling Brand X than to be comfortably fifth in line at Goldman Sachs. The Ivy League was once a haven for alpha males. Recognizing this, the Navy would route a JFK to a PT boat and a John Kerry to a swift boat. Too many alpha males might be trouble on a larger vessel.

Chris Kyle was a prototypical beta male. Had he been an alpha he would probably have attended Annapolis or possibly joined ROTC. He did not feel the need to climb the ladder and he left the Navy as a chief petty officer. Most enlisted personnel are betas. Most Marines and most. if not all, Rangers and SEALS. Beta males.

Most members of street gangs, motorcycle clubs and police departments are betas. Football players and most athletes who play team sports are beta. There are budding alphas or potential alphas or future alphas in all of these organizations but most are betas who are proud and satisfied to be betas. Anyone who works for wages is a frustrated alpha, a frustrated omega or a fairly contented beta.

Hierarchical theory is a fascinating topic well worth further analysis. In the meantime, can we at least try to get our terminology right?