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.
Sigma Males Vs. Alpha Males
Sigma males do not stick around in a group long enough to be a part of them. They believe the smarter decision is to work by themselves and that a team or group comes with too many responsibilities and voices. Here are some of the classic traits of a sigma male.
Character Traits Of A Sigma Male
They Are Introverted: A sigma male tends to keep to himself. While he may join groups occasionally, he does not stick around for long. If they have something to tell you, they will, but they will be off by themselves otherwise. They May Be Dominant: Sigma males have a commanding presence like alpha males. But where alpha males may be loud or friendly, sigmas tend to be reserved and quiet. Sigma males will have leadership roles, but they lead their team without being overly friendly. They Are Influential: Much like the alpha, the sigma male is also very influential. They tend to help set goals in any group. They are adaptable and do not conform to society’s standards. They set their own rules. They Are Successful: Sigmas are successful. However, they may not be team players. Even when they are part of a group or team, they tend to go off and do their own thing. But they consistently achieve their goals, are determined, self-sufficient, driven, and focused.
Each personality type has its benefits and drawbacks. Here are the benefits and drawbacks of being a sigma male.
Benefits Of The Sigma Male Lifestyle
Sigmas have qualities that most women find attractive. They lay out what they want from the relationship and do not make false promises. They are not clingy or needy and are confident, attractive, and mysterious.
Drawbacks Of The Sigma Male Lifestyle
Given these drawbacks, you may think women may not prefer sigma males. On the contrary, they find them attractive. Let’s explore this in the next section.
Do Women Prefer Sigma Men?
Most women are attracted to mysterious men, which gives sigma males an edge. They think that they may make a sigma male commit and are often attracted to them. Sigma males don’t feel the need to commit to a relationship altogether. They leave the relationship whenever they want to. Most sigmas are completely honest with women about what they want. This comes across as self-confidence to most women, and that is a character trait women like. Sigma males are mysterious, charming, attractive, and loners. They are difficult to tie down. In a way, they are rebellious as they go their own way. However, sigma males often never stick to one woman since companionship comes with baggage. Sigma males are mostly not looking to form a strong emotional bond with their partners. They just want a good time. A sigma male may be the most compatible with a sigma female since they have similar personalities and goals. Are sigma males calm? Although sigma males maintain a calm composure on the surface, they are conscious of their surroundings and always observe. What do sigma males look for in a woman? Since one of the main reasons sigma males detest taking responsibility for other people, if they ever feel the need of a companion, they’d want them to be responsible, self-assured, and independent. And because they usually are not the settling type, if they choose to partner up with someone, it is a huge commitment they will take seriously and expect the same from their partner. What makes a sigma male happy? Sigma males are supposedly never in need of anything to make them happy as they are self-sufficient in caring for all their needs. They would make arrangements for themselves before anyone realizes they need to do something for them.
