From YouTube to university research centers, socio-sexual hierarchies — a categorical framework used to describe people’s personalities, social status, and relative popularity to potential romantic partners — is a popular topic.
The two best-known types are alphas and betas, but deltas, gammas, omegas, and sigmas also walk the Earth. What is the general profile of each type, and what are their differences?
As lovers, alpha men are notorious for talking dirty — which can be extremely hot if that’s your thing.
1. Assertive vs. Aggressive
Both sigma and alpha males are confident but display it differently. Sigmas typically assert their opinions and desires in healthy, considerate ways. While they can be assertive, they’re rarely obnoxious about it. Alphas can be a bit more aggressive and may sometimes cross the line with personal relationships. (But their dominance often comes in handy when negotiating business deals!)
Disclaimer: Some alpha males shed their overly aggressive skin after realizing they get further by toning down the bull-in-a-china-shop persona.
2. Private vs. Social
Sigma males are a lot more private than alpha males. The alpha derives confidence from being at the top of a social hierarchy, so they must be around other people to feel their best. In a way, they need other people to see their success and status. Sigmas, however, are significantly more laid back and self-sufficient.
Disclaimer: Many sigma males have close friend groups, but they’re usually better at “alone time” than their alpha counterparts.
3. Quiet vs. Loud
Common wisdom insists that sigma males are quieter than alpha types. And it’s true. Since sigmas don’t court or crave attention, they tend to be lower-key. But don’t be fooled by silence. Some of the most skilled, ruthless, domineering alpha men choose their words carefully and know when to shut their mouths.
Disclaimer: Some alpha males can be deceptively quiet when assessing a situation. Conversely, sigma males get loud and proud when passionate about a topic.
4. Easy-Going vs. Competitive
One of the best ways to tell a sigma from an alpha is the person’s competitive quotient. Sigma men tend to be successful but aren’t ferocious about winning. Furthermore, they’re usually not concerned with taking credit. For sigmas, the work is the thing. Alpha males, on the other hand, crave competition. For them, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as winning.
Disclaimer: Sigmas can be very competitive when they care about a given project, race, or contest.
5. Independent vs. Group-Oriented
Alpha males typically prefer to work and operate in group situations — not to collaborate, but to dominate. Sigmas usually do fine in groups, but they’re more independent. Regarding careers, sigmas follow their passions, whether art, computing, medicine, or social work. On the other hand, Alphas tend to stick to lucrative careers, like finance, law, and medicine — professions people see as high-status. And they usually pick jobs that can yield high monetary rewards but require less education (and initial financial investment), like real estate, construction, or craftsmanship.
Disclaimer: Some alphas are great collaborators, recognizing that you can get more bees with honey than vinegar.
6. Confidence vs. Cocksure
Confidence is tricky to master. One step over the line, and people will see you as arrogant. And yet, cultivating confidence is always worth the effort — because a well-balanced sense of self-esteem does wonders for your mental and physical health. Sigmas typically strike the right balance between approachable and arrogant, but alphas are more at risk of becoming cocksure instead of confident.
Disclaimer: Self-confidence can be challenging to learn. So everyone, whether alpha, beta, delta, gamma, or omega, goes through periods of confidence and arrogance when learning how to get it right.
7. Extroverted vs. Introverted
Sigmas are almost always more introverted than alphas. We’re not saying sigmas are friendless; many maintain deep, long-lasting ties. But they’re usually not the life of the party. Alphas, on the other hand, are front and center in every situation — professional and personal. One isn’t better than the other. Sometimes, having an extroverted person around adds energy and positivity to a situation. Other times, spending time with a thoughtful introvert is precisely what the doctor ordered.
Disclaimer: Introversion and extroversion are two other behavioral conditions that can be highly contextual. Nobody, not even alpha males, is always on.
8. Avant-Garde vs. Traditional
Men who fall into the alpha category are usually more traditional and conservative. They like to fill the knight-in-shining-armor slot. Plus, their worldview is reliant on a top-down hierarchical structure. Without it, they don’t have a pack to lead. Sigma men may fall more on the avant-garde end of the scale because their passions lie elsewhere, and their interests are their lodestars.
Disclaimer: Sigma and alpha men are represented on all sides of the political spectrum. It’s just that alphas tend to be more traditional when it comes to their viewpoints and lifestyle parameters.
9. Hierarchical vs. Collaborative
As we’ve stated several times, alpha males thrive in hierarchical environments. They want to be the center of attention. Some may be great leaders, and others can be more bullying. Sigmas are flexible. While they don’t break down in hierarchical environments, they’re better in collaborative atmospheres. They know how to encourage teammates and don’t take it personally when someone else may get more credit.
Disclaimer: Sigma males who become team leaders can become more hierarchical in their approach.
10. Indifferent vs. Engaged
We’re not suggesting that sigma males dislike engaging in situations or building deep relationships with people. They do! But they’re not nearly as concerned about whether they’re popular or not. They’re indifferent to being part of the in-crowd.
On the other hand, Alphas are all about being an essential part of the “gang.” Alphas join fraternities and are the first to sign up for the office kickball league.
Disclaimer: Younger sigmas tend to be a tad more concerned with popularity than those who’ve been through defining experiences.
Social-hierarchical categories are fun to consider and can provide a framework for determining a person’s motivations and personality type. But don’t take it too seriously because, in truth, everyone adopts different personas and behaviors daily.