What do the terms "alpha men" and "beta men" mean exactly?

[Anonymous]

[Xitomyth]

The terms come from certain animal social interactions, like the alpha of a wolf pack/den is the leader. When applied to humans, it is slightly different but essential the same.

An "alpha" is dominant in nature, not necessarily in the bedroom, but in everyday life, the top dog, the king of the hill, the guy in charge... think strong leader, ruler, or anything else along those lines. Can also mean that he is the top male in a group setting, usually sexual in nature, and either gives commands as the absolute leader or as the leader of all the other men in the group, especially the betas. "Alphas" usually prove themselves by out performing the other males. Capable, independent, strong, trustworthy, etc. Favored by the females. It's my understanding that "alpha females" are very similar and only differ in the actual gender differences themselves, given the slightly different biology.

A "beta" is the exact opposite. Basically a worm to be of service and be sacrificed. They take orders, incapable of doing anything on their own without supervision, all but human trash, don't think for themselves, etc. Basically they serve the alphas and are usually the ones doing all the grunt/dirty work. Same goes for "beta females." Basically they're bred to serve, born raised and trained to be slaves in ancient societies. Shunned by both males and females, they're what you scrape off the bottom of the barrel, utterly pathetic, if not outright useless.

The basic hierarchy is "alphas/rulers" on top, "normals/citizens/workers" in the middle, and "betas/slaves" on the bottom.

[zeitgeist057]

Years ago before this became a thing in our culture, scientists would (and still do) use the term "alpha" to signify a dominant member of a community in animals that interact in groups. It applies to both males and females in a species. It basically means that individual has been identified by the group as the best possible sexual partner, because they have the ideal genetics in the group to produce healthy and competitive offspring.
There is a term in reference to wolves, the "omega wolf" which is the very bottom of the hierarchy on the other end. All the other wolves pick on this wolf, but that wolf is still part of the pack.

Alpha is the greek for the letter A, the first letter of the alphabet. Beta is B, the second. This nomenclature has been perverted by general society and now people throw the terms alpha and beta around, usually to pump themselves up and try to insult others. It's a way of saying "I'm first place, you're second place. I'm big, you're small, I'm smart, you're stupid." Just basic kindergarten BS.

[Tiffany_Taylor_Made]

The terms "alpha" and "beta" are used by online incels to describe their personal opinions on how men should or shouldn't be. They judge "alpha males" as the extroverted, confident, bold, assertive, and more aggressive type of man whereas the "beta male" is more shy, introverted, passive, and timid. Because different men have different views on how men "should be," these meanings could vary per individual. Oftentimes, these terms are actually used by writers that wish to sell books by convincing men with certain characteristics that they're "beta males" and need to change, to which the only way to do that is to buy the writer's book. I believe that they're subjective and useless terms that online incels take way too seriously and the terms "alpha" and "beta" male should only be used to describe animals rather than human beings.

[Chimeguy]

These terms have been around far longer than this online stuff has existed. This is a gross oversimplification and shows a lack of thought and knowledge on this subject.

[Tiffany_Taylor_Made]

@Chimeguy: These terms have existed long when describing animals, but using these terms to describe human men is a more recent phenomenon made popular online.

[Chimeguy]

Sorry, that’s just not true. I was around before the internet, and they were being used to describe humans before that.

[Tiffany_Taylor_Made]

@Chimeguy: Prove it

[Chimeguy]

Well I can’t post links, but I did look it up. I have my own personal experiences, so I had to go look up the actual references. But here is the quotes from sources.

Even after discussion of alpha males was well established in various fields of animal behavior, though, the concept was rarely applied to humans. What changed that, at least in part, was the release of the Dutch primatologist Frans de Waal’s book Chimpanzee Politics: Power and Sex Among Apes in 1982. “I don’t think the term alpha male was in use outside of primatology when I wrote Chimpanzee Politics,” de Waal told me in an email.

It started becoming more popular in the mid to late 90s. Sorry, you’re still wrong. You sit here and talk like an expert when you have no clue what you were talking about. It only took a few minutes of looking online to find this. But I also heard the references with my own ears many times when I was younger.

[Tiffany_Taylor_Made]

@Chimeguy: Oh please. Your source simply suggests that people used the term to apply to humans here and there in the past. That doesn't exactly prove that it was popular to refer to human men as "alpha males" or "beta males" back then. Where is your proof that it was popular in the 90s? I don't want an example of, say, one person or a handful of people calling another man "alpha male" or "beta male" in the 90s. I need evidence of it being used in a similar way that it's used today with similar frequently. Show me several old books on the subject, magazines, newspaper articles, old websites, use of the phrase in many past movies and TV shows, and so on, and compared them to the same stuff today. If you can do that, then I would be convinced and admit that I was wrong. Hell, I'm 30 and when I was in high school and college, nobody was using these terms like they were using them today and that wasn't even execrably that long ago. As far as I'm concerned, these terms have always mostly described animals, not human men. This "alpha" and "beta" male bullshit used to describe human men didn't start really taking off until the mid-2010s.

[Chimeguy]

Whatever, I don’t have to provide a citation of that to you. You just got your ass blasted because you are wrong. That article continues to go on to talk about how it became more popular in the 90s though. You are so full of yourself and your useless opinion that you just think you know everything. You’re also horribly judgmental of other people. And I already told you I can’t post links. I’m not bending over backwards for you. It happened, you’re wrong. My guess is that you are the kind of person who labels anyone an incel who disagrees with you.

[Chimeguy]

I’m out. You can live with the fact that you’re wrong and you can’t admit it. Have fun in your echo chamber.

[Tiffany_Taylor_Made]

@Chimeguy: You showed me an article that mentioned a handful of instances of it being used to refer to human men in the 90s. Big deal. I never denied it that people used it to refer to human men at any time period. Yet, that doesn't mean it was "popular" back then. You didn't show me exactly how it was popular or comparable to how it was used today. I asked for you to show me several old books on the subject, magazines, newspaper articles, old websites, use of the phrase in many past movies and TV shows, and so on, but you didn't do that. I need more than just one article mentioning just a few instances. Nowadays, it's so common, you even have young boys trying to be "alpha males." Also, the only person being judgmental is you and getting all upset for no reason. If you can't post links, then that's not my problem. When you get the chance to, please prove your case, or just drop it.

[Chimeguy]

Please. I don’t care. You’re the one who was provided a source and can’t take it. Keep crying. I’m not looking up tv shoes and stuff like that. You’re just mad because I made you look bad. And I did. Hands down. Just go away. Or keep it up. I don’t care. At this point all I’m going to do is taunt you.

[Tiffany_Taylor_Made]

@Chimeguy: You provided a weak source that doesn't prove the popularity of these terms. It only provided a handful of instances where the term was used to refer to human men. The fact that you don't want to provide BETTER sources to prove your case probably shows that you don't have any and that you don't know what you're talking about. You just think that you can tell someone that they're wrong, provide a source that weakly supports your claim, and then start being judgmental and run away when called out on your bullshit. I don't care what you do, but if your goal is to convince me that I'm wrong, either show BETTER proof as I asked, or go home. The only one "crying" is you.

[Chimeguy]

No. I’m just done with you. It wasn’t weak. Also, I heard it myself when your mom was still dropping you on your head

[Tiffany_Taylor_Made]

@Chimeguy: Well, based on your responses to me, you definitely don't sound like an "alpha male."

[Chimeguy]

ok. That’s nice. Now go play with your dolls.

[Tiffany_Taylor_Made]

@Chimeguy: Can I borrow yours instead? I'm sure a "beta male" like you have plenty.

[Chimeguy]

I love that you’re so mad. It’s funny.

[modelUN242]

Too general of terms.
Alpha male (Chad) is a guy who gets all the girls, red-pilled supposedly or is oblivious to it because his appearance and status get him everything.
Beta male is a low-quality guy, in my opinion a feminist because he has to resort to any way possible to get a woman.

[razelove]

You could break them down into any number of qualities, but basically an alpha is a leader, a better man. The guy you want to be, be around, and make babies with.

A beta is a guy who follows in the shadow of the alpha, the less desirable man, a little bitch. The man who raises the babies of the alpha when he's busy with the other lionesses.

In reality it's just how a guy looks at himself, and his relationship with other men. It's all BS, we are animals, but pretty far removed from a tribal lifestyle. The men who can live that lion lifestyle aren't living like a lion.

Lionesses provide food for the male until they find a more desirable one, so the terms are garbage. If there were alpha and beta males a very small percentage of men would be having sex at any given time with a very large percentage of women in their region. Also with those women providing for all of their material needs. I mean, it describes me right now, but I'm an anomaly, and certainly no figure to lead anyone.

[Just_call_me_Levi]

Some men need to feel superior, these men are so insecure it's saddening...

They constructed a social hierarchy of sorts, to stroke their own ego.

These are men that are out of touch with their feelings because they think it's a weakness, and fear showing weakness to anyone, calling themselves an alpha male as they're in denial.

It's ironic that in their conquest to vanquish weakness, they're doing so out of fear, which they consider a weakness. Paradox much? 😏

I won't get out of the way in life for anyone, and tell myself anyone is more or less than me. Society rolls their eyes at those who do, and rightfully so.

[invalid1]

👌👌👌👌

[Apope16]

Alpha: Independent. Strong. Not afraid to tell his true opinions, not afraid to call a lady out on her bullshit, won't stand for being disrespected by a woman, abundance mentality (meaning he acts as a man who isn't afraid of his woman leaving the relationship), doesn't need a woman, on his purpose, has standards for the ladies he dates

Beta: Co Dependent, fearful state of a woman breaking up with him, willing to put up with disrespect to get pussy, grovels at woman, needy, sucks up and brown noses his lady, always apologizing, doesn't stand up for himself when his woman is rude or disrespectful, afraid to express what he thinks, agrees with people due to fear of confrontation, doesn't have standards for a relationship or women

[MCheetah]

Alpha Male = A confident, self-actualized, unbreakable, mature, responsible, focused man who knows what he wants in life and goes after it.

Beta Male = An insecure, cowardly, slimy, manipulative, weaselly, pathetic, immature, mentally weak man who makes excuses for his failures in life and tries to steal what others have or bathe in Schadenfreude rather than work on his own life. (Most often male feminists or incels).

Most men don't fit into either one of these molds, but they DO exist out there.

[Gravit1]

Superior and Lesser. Someone can be alpha for one thing or field, but lesser in another. Generally men refer to dating and who has the most dates or female company (and the assumed impropriety that implies). A true Alpha has no need to admonish oneself and will pick up titles on their own. Generally this title implies power or authority which naturally attracts women. Men about that life naturally seek this title and the women. Some are too busy conquering or going about life to take up women, others don't care.

[MrOracle]

Alpha Men: Take-charge, leader, decisive, frequently successful, sometimes arrogant or self-centered. Often business owners, partners, or managers. Tend to be the type of men that most women want, or at least think they want.

Beta Men: More likely to be followers, less likely to be confrontational, more likely to accept poor situations without taking action or even complaining, more likely to be indecisive. More likely to have a job that isn't management. The type of men a lot of women "settle for" (at least in their minds) when they can't get an alpha guy.

[Sarahr123]

Alphas are jerks. The bad boys who treat women like shit and use and throw them like tissue paper but women keep going after them.

Betas are simps who suck up to any woman but the women treat them like trash and use them. They don’t know how to control a situation and are soft touches.

That is basically about it

[ShadowedSoul]

Well described haha

[bamesjond0069]

Alpha men essentially go after what they want and betas take whatever comes to them. For example joe is a beta. He works with sally, she's not really any of the things he wants in a woman but he's too lazy to go get the kind of woman he wants. So he accepts sally. Mark is an alpha, sally doesn't meet his criteria and so he opens girls daily while out and about who appear to meet his criteria until he finds the one he wants. Its the attitude. Joe also thanks his boss for a 5 cent raise while mark reaches out to a competitor company, secures a job offer for 20% higher pay. Then goes to his boss and tells him he needs a 30% raise in order to stay. Its the attitude. The go get what you want vs accept whatever is laid in your lap.

[AwanAlphaMale]

Beta: weak, cries, simps, marries whores and Onlyfans girls, listens to soy indie and pop music, is bossed around by women, respects modern women. ALPHA: fucks like a beast but does not settle for any slut who puts out easily because her father never loved her, does not cry and doesn't believe shit like "crying is a sign of strength", is a MAN not a crybaby boy, listens to real music like metal and gangster rap, knows that 99% of modern women are cheap whores who post their ass on IG for likes, does not pretend to like girly things just to please his women, will only settle for a beautiful tradwife.

[NathanDavis]

see what I mean? here's one heavy load, but this as an extreme case, others might be "smarter" about it, but they're still the same piece of bull, just presented in a more subtle dosage of douchery

[Anonymous]

Those terms are nonsense.

As for what people think they mean, this corny video explains and debunks them:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/0Ti86veZBjU

[DizzyDesii]

Dumb and dumber. Literally the worse ways men can insult eachother. You’d think each guy would share a little of both traits so to label themselves only one just sounds silly. Alphas are usually assholes and Betas are usually insecure gentleman still learning how to become one

[Vetis]

Not true, alpha males are gentlemen. Gentlemen implies you are competent enough to not be gentle, but choose to be. Beta males are subservient, not gentlemen.

[DizzyDesii]

@Vetis well i personally dont know gentleman who call themselves alpha. Anyone calling themselves alpha from what i’ve seen were arrogant cocky douchebags

[Anonymous]

Alpha: a guy who is considered attractive to women, gets laid

Beta: a guy who isn’t considered attractive to women, usually doesn’t get laid but might sometimes if he’s lucky

Anything else you hear, especially if some smoothbrain mentions wolves as if that’s an argument, is irrelevant.

[Astarlessnightsky]

The idea is that some men are alpha, the better dominant leaders, and others are beta, not "real" men, second or third class men.

Its derived from an old concepts how wolf packs work, there is the alpha wolf, leading the pack getting all the females and the best pieces of meat, while the other beta wolfs are just getting the scraps the alpha generously left over.

In reality its just a concept for douchebags to feel supirior and good about themselves.

[Adam1978]

It's a sign that people are dumb and think interact between sexes can be so easily defined. They see one parameter that attracts women and determine they have it and then claims to be alpha, then they look at another guy and see a bad parameter and claim they are beta. When both have tons of parameters which either attract or unattract women. And since even if there is plenty of common ground on what attract a woman there is also a big diversity on exactly is the most attractive features are.

[Browneye57]

One leads, the other follows. One is strong, the other is weak.
One cannot make decisions, the other is decisive.
One is successful, the other whines and makes excuses.
One is rich (in many ways) the other is destitute.

Well, you get the idea. Women particularly loathe weak men.

[shade_19]

Nothing, just bullshit
Go and check in videos , alpha, beta, omega, sigma, gamma
people will just make stupid trend of beta is weak cuck and alpha us the man
But that's stupid, it's actually categorised men upon their nature
people like me unable to fall in alpha beta race come under other 3

[TheFlak38]

You tell us. Women define these terms and change the definition every day. If women collectively tomorrow decided that an alpha man must walk an all fours and bark like a dog, every pick up artist around the world and their loyal followers would do exactly that just to get a chance to ejaculate into a vagina.

[R3DthatDude]

People are more complicated then the 2 types of men they so called came up with in this weird generation. It’s just over simplification to create a box for people some people would like to write off and avoid.

[Unit1]

Absolutely nothing. Those terms are used by boneheads, who try really hard to lift themselves up while pushing all the others down.

[Twalli]

How they act in relation to each other. There are also Omega men and those that don't fit any category, chameleon men. Onega men are alphas that are ignored, so they have no follower. Chameleon men can move in all circles at will, but have no desire to be alphas.