Who Is A Sigma Male? Personality Traits, Benefits And Drawbacks Explained

Introverted alpha males are known to have a sigma male personality. They are also called lone wolves. Sigma males are dominant, influential, good-looking, and prefer to be alone. In this article, we talk in detail about the sigma male personality, their personality traits, benefits of this personality type, and its drawbacks, among other related things. Continue reading to know more.

In This Article

What Is Sigma Male Personality?

A Sigma male is an introverted alpha male without a pack. They are the men you would call “lone wolves.” It is a new addition to the personality hierarchy dominated by alpha males. They are successful, good-looking, dominant, and influential but tend to be loners. Some common examples of sigma males in popular culture include John Maclane (the badass cop from The Die Hard series), and John Wick (the assassin from the movie series played by Keanu Reeves, who is also considered a sigma male).

If you wonder about the origin of this imaginary personality or social hierarchy, and how sigma male differ from alpha males, we have explained it below.

The Wolf Pack Personality Theory

These personality traits came from the Wolf Pack Theory (which was later debunked). In 1947, animal behaviorist Rudolph Schenkel published a study called “Expressions Studies on Wolves,” which stated that alpha wolves lead the pack. However, the study was based on the traits of captive wolves. In his book Brave New World published in 1932, Aldous Huxley stated that humans needed to follow a similar social hierarchy as animals for stability and happiness in society (1). He further segregated each person based on social rank and character traits into alpha, beta, gamma, epsilon, or moron males. Since then, humans have categorized males (and sometimes females) under similar terminology.

However, wildlife biologist L. David Mech debunked the theory after studying wolves in the wild. According to him, wolves do not have any sense of rank, and they are not born leaders or followers. Wolves live in families, and the “alphas” are the parents whom the offspring follows (2).

Even though the theory was debunked, the imaginary concept of alpha and sigma males stuck around. It further gained traction with popular culture and is considered a tool to stereotype men and trigger their insecurities. Let’s take a look at how sigma men are positioned in the socio-sexual hierarchy.

The Role Of Sigma Male In The Socio-Sexual Hierarchy

The socio-sexual hierarchy was created by Theodore Robert Beale, also known as Vox Day, an American far-right activist and writer. It segregates people based on their behavioral patterns. According to the hierarchy, there are six different personality types:

Alphas: They are natural leaders, dominant, extroverted, charismatic, and a tad aggressive.
Sigmas: They are introverts who don’t play by social rules. They are at par with alphas, except that they don’t stay in a group. They are not aggressive and keep to themselves.
Betas: They are the seconds-in-command to the alpha. They are passive and follow the alpha’s order.
Deltas: They are hardworking men with self-esteem issues. They tend to come across as insecure in relationships.
Gammas: They may have narcissistic traits and often come across as egotistical and abusive. They do not take orders well.
Omegas: They are introverted and intelligent, with emotional baggage. They tend to be clingy and needy in relationships.

Sigmas and alphas are at par with each other, but there are quite a few differences that set them apart.

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