Just when most people think they have the personality types figured out, it turns out that there's a delta male.
That's right, there are actually six male personality types: alpha, beta, omega, gamma, sigma, and delta.
This personality typing system came from studies of animal hierarchies, and psychologists applied it to humans.
For those of you who are familiar with any of the other personality types, you might have mistaken yourself for something else.
The delta male personality is quite different from the alpha and even the beta type.
Knowing the delta male traits can help you determine if you are one.
What is a Delta Male?
A delta male is more introverted than a beta. Because it's hard to get to know the delta, it's almost impossible for most people to figure him out.
He is very private and avoids confrontation, so other people do not have the chance to become familiar with him.
The delta male personality is often a guy who once was one of the other personality types, but something occurred in his life to make him more reserved.
Whereas the beta is friendly, the delta can be resentful. Unlike the sigma male, the delta does not have to tone down his mystery. It’s just part of who he is.
Delta Male vs. Alpha Male
The alpha male is considered the first personality type and the polar opposite of the beta male. The beta is a go-getter, confident, competitive, and extroverted. Compare these differences between alpha and delta males.
Alpha traits are listed first, followed by beta traits.
- Extroversion vs. introversion
- Confidence vs. low self-esteem
- Puts hobbies/career first vs. puts love first
- Successful vs. self-sabotaging
- Competitive vs. non-competitive
- Open vs. secretive
- Sociable vs. lonely
11 Delta Male Personality Traits
Like the other personality types, delta male traits are unique. How do you spot a delta male? The characteristics listed below will offer some clues.
If you think you’re a delta personality, you don’t need to possess all of these traits to fit this type. But if you see yourself in many of them, your guess is probably spot on.
1. Introversion
The delta male has an introverted personality. That means he gets energy from small, intimate interactions. He needs time to recharge whenever he interacts with many people or strangers.
More to the point, the introvert enjoys being alone. It's just his preference, and he has solo hobbies he's very good at.
However, that doesn't mean he can't kick up his heels and have fun when he wants or feels he needs to. In fact, he can be very funny.
2. Secretiveness
Introversion isn't a bad trait. But combined with secretiveness, it can be. The delta guy is no ordinary private person but an extreme.
If you're not used to the delta male, it can come off like he has a wall around him. You may think he needs to come out of his shell. In actuality, he is skeptical of new people and refuses to lay all his cards on the table.
He wants people to work to get to know him. Because he is mistrustful of others, he wants them to prove their sincerity.
3. Low Self-Esteem
Some people are used to having low self-esteem from an early age, and it's a huge hurdle to grow out of and develop confidence. The delta male does not have this pattern.
A delta man has drastically changed from his previous personality traits. He used to be an alpha male and has become what could be called the “dark side” or the “shadow” of the alpha.
Having reached rock bottom, he can't seem to get back to his former glory. He just doesn't have the reservoir of confidence that used to come so easily to him.
4. Loneliness
Yes, introverts tend to be loners. But the delta male is more of a “going his own way” type. He steers away from the group and will sit by himself at a table.
That doesn't mean he's not lonely, though. Because he's so reserved, he naturally has an air of aloofness. He's detached, and it's his aura that keeps people at a distance.
5. Prioritization of Love
Society values romantic love, and the delta male puts love above everything else. Even so, he is a rare personality type because few people cherish love as he does.
A single delta male puts a lot of stock into finding a serious partner to settle down with. His friends may often hear of his depression or frustration over feeling lonely or not finding someone to have a fulfilling relationship with.
But when he does find that special someone, he is over the moon. He is likely to get married and have children with this person.
6. Self-sabotaging
Excessive worry and mistrust often plague the delta male to the point that he sabotages himself. His friends, relationships, and career all suffer a downturn as a result.
Whereas many people take advantage of opportunities and seek out the support of people close to them, the delta male tends to do the opposite. He'll push away and even go so far as to hurt people based on the belief that they'll hurt him, so it's best if he hurts them first.
Of course, this only makes things harder for him, and the self-fulfilling prophecy confirms his false belief that he was in the right. As one of the worst delta male traits, self-sabotaging calls for deep self-reflection, honesty, and changes in behavior.
7. Resentful
Sometimes, people go through phases of resentment towards the world. But the delta male has it in spades.
It's typical for a delta male to have experienced some kind of significant change or life crisis. He holds his negative emotions inside and turns them out towards other people.
Reacting to and being stuck in the past, he can rarely be present. He seeks to blame other people for his problems.
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8. Resigned
Have you ever met someone who seems they have just given up on the possibility of good things and good people? A sense of resignation is one of the delta male traits and another negative one.
This attitude of giving up comes across as not caring and rubs people the wrong way. The delta male seems apathetic when he is being extremely pessimistic in reality.
He believes he is fated to things never going well for him. Not only that, but he also believes that a negative outcome is inevitable, and he can do nothing to change it.
The delta male personality is the perfect example of how our thoughts shape our reality.
9. Non-competitive
Having an assertive edge and a sense of competition becomes especially useful in the workplace. However, the delta male personality is just not career-focused.
In fact, the delta male is likely to take a career downgrade. Throughout his career, he may go up and down the corporate ladder. It's as if he can't find a permanent position. Or if he does, it is lower on the pecking order.
It doesn't mean that delta males aren't valuable as workers, though.
Alpha males and other personality types rely on them to be the company's backbone.
10. Changeable Personality
One of the most unique traits of the delta male personality is their changeable nature. They are the most likely personality type to shift between alpha, beta, or even sigma roles, depending on their circumstances and environment.
However, this can also mean that their personality can be somewhat inconsistent, making it difficult for others to understand them fully.
Despite this, the delta male’s ability to shift between different roles and personalities can make them valuable in various situations, including leadership roles, teamwork, and problem-solving scenarios.
11. Lacking Ambition and Leadership
The delta male personality is not typically ambitious or seeking leadership roles. They are content to work in the background and support others in their endeavors.
They may not have a clear vision or goals for their future, preferring to take each day as it comes. They are not interested in climbing the corporate ladder or seeking higher positions of authority.
They are more comfortable taking directions than giving them and may even take great pride in their ability to follow instructions without causing trouble.
While these attributes can be beneficial in a team setting, the lack of desire to lead can be an obstacle when it is time for someone to step up and make important decisions or help motivate a group to succeed.
Difference Between Delta Male vs. Gamma Male
The delta male and gamma male personalities are two distinct types of men. While both are not discussed as often as alpha males, their similarities end there.
These two personality types differ significantly in terms of their social behavior, values, and approach to life. Here are some notable differences between the two:
- Social Behavior: Delta males are introverts who tend to keep to themselves. They may have small social circles, and they can be shy or awkward around large groups of people. Gamma males, on the other hand, are adventurous and highly social. They enjoy meeting new people and thrive in a party atmosphere.
- Values: While Delta males are more likely to follow traditional values and strive to remain true to their beliefs, Gamma males believe in pushing boundaries and taking risks.
- Approach to Life: Delta males take a practical approach to life, focusing on stability and security. They are risk-averse and prefer a slower lifestyle with few changes. Gamma males, however, are more adventurous and enjoy living on the edge. They prefer taking risks and facing challenges head-on.
- Perspectives: Delta males tend to look at life through a pessimistic lens and can be quite judgmental of others. Gamma males, on the other hand, are optimistic and open-minded in their perspectives.
- Self-Esteem: Gamma males tend to be confident and comfortable with who they are, while Delta males struggle with self-esteem issues. They can be quite insecure, needing others’ approval to feel good about themselves.
- Goals: While Gamma males are driven by ambition and often strive for success, Delta males tend to be content with the status quo. They are not ambitious or driven and may even shy away from opportunities that could lead to success.
- Communication: Delta males are often hesitant to open up or express themselves, but Gamma males are more likely to be outspoken and confident in their views.
How to Best Manage Your Delta Male Traits
A few of the delta male traits tend to undermine opportunities, especially when the man is trying to attract new friends, romantic interests, and job prospects. So, how can a delta male handle them effectively?
Here are a few tips on how to emphasize the positive and turn destructive traits into constructive ones:
- Suspend disbelief: Allowing yourself to take life and people as they come will open up a world of possibilities you never knew existed.
- Take responsibility: Sometimes, things that happen to you result from bad decisions. That's okay. Learn what you can from them, and move on.
- Find where you shine: Learn your talents and skills and work on those, then figure out how to use them in your career. You'll then be able to have a sense of belonging.
- Open up a little: There are many things you can talk about casually without having to disclose your whole life story.
- Be happy without love: You can yearn for a life partner without having to be miserable about it. Develop your friendships, and you'll always have emotional support.
The delta male personality is rare and elusive, but the best judges are perhaps those men who fit the traits and recognize their description in themselves.
While it's not bad to have this personality, a few traits are negative or self-destructive. But knowing about these characteristics, you can learn new ways of coping and managing the emotions that can be destructive.