Requiem for the Alpha Male

We are social herd animals and within such a social grouping the alpha male position is constantly challenged. He has to assert his authority over the territory he lays claim to, be protective to and see off suitors for his female entourage, be vigilant to upcoming nubile females to add to his group, ensure there is food and shelter, decide when his male heirs can no longer be tolerated within his arena and keep himself fit, active, alert and ready for the next challenge.

Over the eons the alpha male within his herd group has evolved to carry those characteristics necessary for taking up an alpha position. Characteristic such as aggression, dominance, individualism, risk-taking, spray marking, confrontation and display.

In this human world that alpha male has had to sublimate his inherited characteristics to fit in with the ever expanding society he now has to move within. As the space gets ever more crowded the area the alpha male can claim authority over shrinks and the more the overt display of dominance must be subverted. So the out-stretched hand of welcome, the invitation into the home, the dominance over the TV controller and the parade of teen stick models on the cat-walk are all manifestations of this sublimation of the old old alpha male responses.

Trouble is all the essential characteristics that make an alpha male an alpha male are now out of favour. Individualism, challenge, dominance or aggression are definitely now taboo in this world of political correctness and sexual equality where we seek and only encourage the feminine side in the male. The alpha male has no where to go, his innate responses are wrong and unwelcomed in today's society.

Will we miss him? Will the girls miss the strong male that knew his ground and place? Will society be able to forge ahead without those individuals with the courage to stand aside from the crowd? Will society be that happier and peaceful place without his aggression? It is almost impossible to see the alpha male characteristics taking an even further and deeper sublimation to reappear in a new incarnation. I for one hope he makes it.