The Science and Mythology of Alpha and Beta Males: A Close Look at the Alpha, Beta, Sigma, Gamma, and Omega Male Personality

by Michael Brown

In the 1980s, the term alpha male became a household word after the release of Frans de Waal's book titled, Chimpanzee Politics. Unfortunately, de Waal's concept of an alpha male is misrepresented in television and on the internet. Alpha males are usually defined strictly by dominant behavior, success with attracting women, and a strong physique. Another male archetype emerged from this concept known as the beta male. This archetype is most often defined as the opposite of the alpha. The beta is thought of as the passive weakling who can't get a date, never played a sport, and always backs down from challenges. However, both definitions fall far from they way in which scientists and psychologists use these terms. Moreover, there are additional archetypes that emerged in the past decade known as the Gamma, Sigma, and Omega males. Unfortunately, there isn't a consistent agreement in pop culture as to precisely what each archetype is.

To better understand what each archetype is and how it reveals the actual functioning of the male psyche, this book demonstrates how the Greek alphabet archetypes not only reveal various male personalities, but they also correspond to modern behavioral tests in psychology. By understanding how the archetypes fall in line with modern psychology and classic mythology, men can get a better understanding of who they are, how they can better achieve what they want in life, and most of all, learn how to improve themselves in a deeper and more holistic way.

110 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 21, 2023

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Until 1989, South African-born Michael Brown was living what he had called a blissfully unconscious life as a music journalist. He then developed an acutely painful neurological condition for which conventional medicine had neither cure nor relief. This caused him to set out on what became an odyssey of self-healing. His exploration took him into numerous alternative healing modalities – then beyond.

In the late 90s Michael began to chart a methodical pathway into present moment awareness with intent to develop a practical procedure that anyone, anywhere, could follow to initiate this experience for themselves. This procedure became known as The Presence Process. In 2002 Michael returned to South Africa and invited others to experience this inner journey. He discovered that as others embraced present moment awareness they too automatically experienced release from physical, mental, and emotional discomfort, including psychological disorders and addictions.

To make this journey accessible to everyone Michael wrote The Presence Process: A Healing Journey Into Present Moment Awareness. The Presence Process enables us to take present moment awareness from a mental concept to an abiding experience.

Brown, Michael, 1962-
from Library of Congress website