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Aggressive dominance is linked to a fast [[life history]] strategy, while non-aggressive dominance can be regarded as a slow life history strategy. Human dominance hierarchies tend toward the latter due to [[neoteny]] and a high prevalence of [[arranged marriage]] rather than free mate choice which have likely resulted from [[wikipedia:Self-domestication|self-domestication]]. | Aggressive dominance is linked to a fast [[life history]] strategy, while non-aggressive dominance can be regarded as a slow life history strategy. Human dominance hierarchies tend toward the latter due to [[neoteny]] and a high prevalence of [[arranged marriage]] rather than free mate choice which have likely resulted from [[wikipedia:Self-domestication|self-domestication]]. | ||
For human males, there is a link between social dominance and [[reproductive success]]. This link is, however, much weaker than in closely related nonhuman primates (r = .19 vs r = .8).<ref>https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27601650/</ref> | For human males, there is a link between social dominance and [[reproductive success]]. This link is, however, much weaker than in closely related nonhuman primates (r = .19 vs r = .8).<ref>https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27601650/</ref> | ||
== Manosphere == | == Manosphere == | ||
The idea of an overall, necessary, mostly fixed, and possibly genetic sociosexual hierarchy in humans has been mainly promoted seriously by various traditionalists such as [[Vox Day]] and [[Jordan Peterson]] and thus has had influence on the [[manosphere]] as [[Traditionalist conservatism|traditionalists]] entered the manosphere in the 2010s. The modern mainstream concept of a genetic, inevitable, necessary, or extremely fixed sociosexual hierarchy was also inspired by more mainstream media/literature and [[PUA|pick-up-artistry]] which was in turn inspired by scientist [[David Mech|David Mech's]] concept of an 'alpha wolf', which David later retracted.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20151023133410/http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2014/sep/24/my-bad-alpha-wolf-term-outmoded/</ref><ref>Scientist David Mech addresses readers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNtFgdwTsbU</ref> | |||
The idea of an overall, necessary, mostly fixed, and possibly genetic sociosexual hierarchy in humans has been mainly promoted seriously by various traditionalists such as [[Vox Day]] and [[Jordan Peterson]] and thus has had influence on the [[manosphere]] as [[Traditionalist conservatism|traditionalists]] entered the manosphere in the 2010s. | |||
While small hierarchies at a local level are plausibly rooted in human evolutionary past, the immensely large hierarchies of modern nation states and large cooperation are more alienated from the natural setting. While redpillers and dating coaches etc. focus on dominance signaling at the local scale, Jordan Peterson attempts to justify the hierarchy for entire nation states, e.g. by the overall incentive structure it provides.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF-bXNQ4wzs</ref> | While small hierarchies at a local level are plausibly rooted in human evolutionary past, the immensely large hierarchies of modern nation states and large cooperation are more alienated from the natural setting. While redpillers and dating coaches etc. focus on dominance signaling at the local scale, Jordan Peterson attempts to justify the hierarchy for entire nation states, e.g. by the overall incentive structure it provides.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF-bXNQ4wzs</ref> | ||
==Self-described incels on the dominance hierarchy== | ==Self-described incels on the dominance hierarchy== | ||
Self-described [[incels]] mainly see ranks in terms of ''sexual status and looks'' because incels think these play a widely underappreciated role for social acceptance. Incels use their own terminology to refer to different ranks of each sex: [[Chad]], [[Normie]], [[Virgin]], [[Stacy]] and [[Becky]]. The ''female virgin'' is not a low ranking female because virginity is only detrimental to men, and actually ''beneficial'' to women.<ref>https://incels.wiki/w/Scientific_Blackpill#Males_gained_peer_status_through_having_had_sex_and_females_lost_peer_status</ref> | Self-described [[incels]] mainly see ranks in terms of ''sexual status and looks'' because incels think these play a widely underappreciated role for social acceptance. Incels use their own terminology to refer to different ranks of each sex: [[Chad]], [[Normie]], [[Virgin]], [[Stacy]] and [[Becky]]. The ''female virgin'' is not a low ranking female because virginity is only detrimental to men, and actually ''beneficial'' to women.<ref>https://incels.wiki/w/Scientific_Blackpill#Males_gained_peer_status_through_having_had_sex_and_females_lost_peer_status</ref> | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Social animals naturally compete for access to resources and mating opportunities which are limited in quantity and quality. | Social animals naturally compete for access to resources and mating opportunities which are limited in quantity and quality. | ||
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[[Blackpill|Blackpillers]] and incels rather focus on dominance in [[LMS|looks, financial capital]] and other factors that are largely predetermined and cannot be fixed with ''one weird trick''. | [[Blackpill|Blackpillers]] and incels rather focus on dominance in [[LMS|looks, financial capital]] and other factors that are largely predetermined and cannot be fixed with ''one weird trick''. | ||
[[Redpill|Redpillers]] and [[bluepill|bluepillers]] tend to [[chadsplaining|recommend]] to "be more confident", "take a shower" and "stand upright" to improve one's dating success, but [[Blackpill|blackpillers]] regard faking confidence as a fleeting solution at best, and as unnatural especially for introverted, autistic, ugly and other omega males who lack real status or significance on which they could base their confidence on, also fearing bullying for appearing overconfident and awkward. | [[Redpill|Redpillers]] and [[bluepill|bluepillers]] tend to [[chadsplaining|recommend]] to "be more confident", "take a shower" and "stand upright" to improve one's dating success, but [[Blackpill|blackpillers]] regard faking confidence as a fleeting solution at best, and as unnatural especially for introverted, autistic, ugly and other omega males who lack real status or significance on which they could base their confidence on, also fearing bullying for appearing overconfident and awkward. | ||
==Human dominance hierarchies== | ==Human dominance hierarchies== | ||
In many animals, rank is not only decided by strength and health, but also by [[beauty|ornament or courtship display]]. | In many animals, rank is not only decided by strength and health, but also by [[beauty|ornament or courtship display]]. | ||
Humans have the most complex behavior of all animals and a wide variety of things determine status such as competence, [[beauty|looks/ornament]], strength/intimidation, humor, power, prestige and resources. Everyone is part of many status hierarchies at the same time, which are either formal or informal.<ref>https://www.amazon.com/Behave-Biology-Humans-Best-Worst/dp/1594205078</ref> | Humans have the most complex behavior of all animals and a wide variety of things determine status such as competence, [[beauty|looks/ornament]], strength/intimidation, humor, power, prestige and resources. Everyone is part of many status hierarchies at the same time, which are either formal or informal.<ref>https://www.amazon.com/Behave-Biology-Humans-Best-Worst/dp/1594205078</ref> | ||
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Both men and women have a hierarchy, but the criteria and mechanisms that determine them are very different except for the importance of [[beauty]]. Women are much more gossipy and manipulative, and compete more by looks and a (sexually) faithful reputation. Men are more cooperative and concerned with resource extraction.<ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022103117304195</ref> | Both men and women have a hierarchy, but the criteria and mechanisms that determine them are very different except for the importance of [[beauty]]. Women are much more gossipy and manipulative, and compete more by looks and a (sexually) faithful reputation. Men are more cooperative and concerned with resource extraction.<ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022103117304195</ref> | ||
Men's hierarchies revolve more around the ability to extract resources, but also [[beauty|looks]]. Since men benefit from cooperation in resource extraction, their intrasexual competition is more productive and cooperative than women's. | Men's hierarchies revolve more around the ability to extract resources, but also [[beauty|looks]]. Since men benefit from cooperation in resource extraction, their intrasexual competition is more productive and cooperative than women's. | ||
Women's hierarchies revolve around looks and a reputation of sexual faithfulness and related traits that men desire in women. Women's intrasexual competition mainly consists in destroying one another's reputation as well as gossiping about looks because women do not gain as much from cooperation as men.<ref>http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2018.03.011</ref> | Women's hierarchies revolve around looks and a reputation of sexual faithfulness and related traits that men desire in women. Women's intrasexual competition mainly consists in destroying one another's reputation as well as gossiping about looks because women do not gain as much from cooperation as men.<ref>[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2018.03.011 http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2018.03.011]</ref> | ||
Humans have various behaviors that are involved in status negotiation and signaling, most of which occur subconsciously.<ref>https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7877/6c171da1ecb4b308aaa0c95b1af6f11a1271.pdf</ref><ref>https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4612-5106-4_2</ref> Some of them are listed below. | Humans have various behaviors that are involved in status negotiation and signaling, most of which occur subconsciously.<ref>https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7877/6c171da1ecb4b308aaa0c95b1af6f11a1271.pdf</ref><ref>https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4612-5106-4_2</ref> Some of them are listed below. | ||
==Status signals in humans== | ==Status signals in humans== | ||
===Erectness of posture=== | ===Erectness of posture=== | ||
More dominant individuals have a more erect posture.<ref>Weisfeld. 1982. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00992459</ref> | More dominant individuals have a more erect posture.<ref>Weisfeld. 1982. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00992459</ref> | ||
For example, the grade received after an exam predicts changes in erectness of posture (r = 0.6 to 0.8) and people intuitively infer dominance from erectness of posture.<ref>https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00992459</ref> | For example, the grade received after an exam predicts changes in erectness of posture (r = 0.6 to 0.8) and people intuitively infer dominance from erectness of posture.<ref>https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00992459</ref> | ||
Erectness before the exam, however, does not affect the grade, hence dominance is not caused by erectness of posture, but dominance leads to a change in posture. | Erectness before the exam, however, does not affect the grade, hence dominance is not caused by erectness of posture, but dominance leads to a change in posture. | ||
===Confidence=== | ===Confidence=== | ||
Ten months old toddlers are able to infer dominance relations between simple geometric objects by observing relative [[confidence]] and forcefulness in the object's movements.<ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21273490</ref> Since babies exhibit this behavior before socialization could have taken place and since one can observe similar behaviors throughout the animal kingdom, one can only conclude that such behaviors are innate rather than [[social constructionism|cultural]]. | Ten months old toddlers are able to infer dominance relations between simple geometric objects by observing relative [[confidence]] and forcefulness in the object's movements.<ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21273490</ref> Since babies exhibit this behavior before socialization could have taken place and since one can observe similar behaviors throughout the animal kingdom, one can only conclude that such behaviors are innate rather than [[social constructionism|cultural]]. | ||
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Related to confidence is [[cool|coolness]] as well as [[stoicism]]. | Related to confidence is [[cool|coolness]] as well as [[stoicism]]. | ||
===Shyness=== | ===Shyness=== | ||
Shyness is fundamentally an expression of low status as it is strongly (inversely) related to confidence. The entire notion of [[love shy|love-shyness]] can be seen as a confusion of the importance of social status with a narrow condition in matters of sexuality, offering questionable memes like [[antifragility|trauma]] as dubious explanation. | Shyness is fundamentally an expression of low status as it is strongly (inversely) related to confidence. The entire notion of [[love shy|love-shyness]] can be seen as a confusion of the importance of social status with a narrow condition in matters of sexuality, offering questionable memes like [[antifragility|trauma]] as dubious explanation. | ||
===Bravery and stoicism=== | ===Bravery and stoicism=== | ||
Bravery and war heroism appear to be male-specific dominance signals.<ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090513815000239</ref> Also [[stoicism]], i.e. the downplaying of hardship and disease is a way to maintain dominance, and women have possibly selected men to have this trait, as men who showed weakness were more likely discarded by them.<ref>S G Brown. 2018. ''Female choice and male stoicism.'' [[https://www.ashdin.com/articles/female-choice-and-male-stoicism.pdf Abstract]]</ref> | Bravery and war heroism appear to be male-specific dominance signals.<ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090513815000239</ref> Also [[stoicism]], i.e. the downplaying of hardship and disease is a way to maintain dominance, and women have possibly selected men to have this trait, as men who showed weakness were more likely discarded by them.<ref>S G Brown. 2018. ''Female choice and male stoicism.'' [[https://www.ashdin.com/articles/female-choice-and-male-stoicism.pdf Abstract]]</ref> | ||
===Desperation and trying hard=== | |||
===Desperation and trying hard=== | |||
Showing despair and trying too hard are a reliable signal of low status and weakness and it is the opposite of [[coolness]]. | Showing despair and trying too hard are a reliable signal of low status and weakness and it is the opposite of [[coolness]]. | ||
By hiding hardship men can maintain their status and hence access to females.<ref>https://www.ashdin.com/articles/female-choice-and-male-stoicism.pdf</ref> | By hiding hardship men can maintain their status and hence access to females.<ref>https://www.ashdin.com/articles/female-choice-and-male-stoicism.pdf</ref> | ||
Analyzing and studying social interactions may be perceived as a low status activity because it may imply that one cannot get by without it due to some flaw (so one needs to "try hard"). Complaining about unfairness also tends to signal low status and desperation, which is why few men are [[MRA]]s. | Analyzing and studying social interactions may be perceived as a low status activity because it may imply that one cannot get by without it due to some flaw (so one needs to "try hard"). Complaining about unfairness also tends to signal low status and desperation, which is why few men are [[MRA]]s. | ||
One of the strongest signals of despair, dependence and neediness is crying which babies use to signal neediness and reduce the risk of a reduction or withdrawal of parental care.<ref>https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X0400010X</ref> | One of the strongest signals of despair, dependence and neediness is crying which babies use to signal neediness and reduce the risk of a reduction or withdrawal of parental care.<ref>https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X0400010X</ref> | ||
===Eye contact and attention=== | ===Eye contact and attention=== | ||
Another simple aspect of dominance signaling is gaze and attention. One study found that people pay more attention to photos of men with high status cues (attire in this case). Interestingly, neither men or women pay more attention to women with such high status cues.<ref>https://incels.wiki/w/Scientific_Blackpill_(Supplemental)#Women_.28and_men.29_pay_more_attention_to_high_status_men.2C_not_high_status_women</ref> | Another simple aspect of dominance signaling is gaze and attention. One study found that people pay more attention to photos of men with high status cues (attire in this case). Interestingly, neither men or women pay more attention to women with such high status cues.<ref>https://incels.wiki/w/Scientific_Blackpill_(Supplemental)#Women_.28and_men.29_pay_more_attention_to_high_status_men.2C_not_high_status_women</ref> | ||
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Dividing the two terms cancels out differences in individual propensity for holding eye contact and combines both in one number. | Dividing the two terms cancels out differences in individual propensity for holding eye contact and combines both in one number. | ||
Being more dominant, increases the denominator and decreases the nominator, hence increases the ratio. | Being more dominant, increases the denominator and decreases the nominator, hence increases the ratio. | ||
{| class="wikitable sortable" | {| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
|+Examples for VDR ratio<ref>https://books.google.com/books/about/Subliminal.html?id=V7wt3Sqj_X8C</ref> | |+Examples for VDR ratio<ref>https://books.google.com/books/about/Subliminal.html?id=V7wt3Sqj_X8C</ref> | ||
| Line 132: | Line 112: | ||
|0.54 | |0.54 | ||
|} | |} | ||
===Voice=== | ===Voice=== | ||
{{main_article|[[Voice]]}} | {{main_article|[[Voice]]}} | ||
Deep voices are generally perceived as more dominant.<ref name="voice">https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.evolhumbehav.2007.05.002</ref><ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/002210318790045X</ref> | Deep voices are generally perceived as more dominant.<ref name="voice">https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.evolhumbehav.2007.05.002</ref><ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/002210318790045X</ref> | ||
Other dominance signals include loud rapid speaking tempo and clear articulation which is related to confidence.<ref name="voice" /> | Other dominance signals include loud rapid speaking tempo and clear articulation which is related to confidence.<ref name="voice" /> | ||
In one study, low status individuals accommodated their voices to the voice pitch of their higher status partners in an experiment.<ref>https://doi.org/10.1177/0190272517738215</ref> Similar to status differences in smiling, this provides evidence that lower status individuals use signals of appeasement to avoid conflict and accept their position in the hierarchy. | In one study, low status individuals accommodated their voices to the voice pitch of their higher status partners in an experiment.<ref>https://doi.org/10.1177/0190272517738215</ref> Similar to status differences in smiling, this provides evidence that lower status individuals use signals of appeasement to avoid conflict and accept their position in the hierarchy. | ||
===Smiling=== | ===Smiling=== | ||
Even though showing teeth is a signal of threat in most animals, in various higher primates including humans, the display of teeth with certain additional facial expressions (lifted corners of the mouth in case of humans) has evolved to ''negate'' the signal of threat,<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUvpzIN7p1k</ref> indicating absence of threat and by extension, it signals positive emotion, benevolence, submission, compliance, appeasement etc. It also may have evolved as necessity for babies to signal all is good.<ref>https://www.amazon.com/Elephant-Brain-Hidden-Motives-Everyday/dp/0190495995</ref> | Even though showing teeth is a signal of threat in most animals, in various higher primates including humans, the display of teeth with certain additional facial expressions (lifted corners of the mouth in case of humans) has evolved to ''negate'' the signal of threat,<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUvpzIN7p1k</ref> indicating absence of threat and by extension, it signals positive emotion, benevolence, submission, compliance, appeasement etc. It also may have evolved as necessity for babies to signal all is good.<ref>https://www.amazon.com/Elephant-Brain-Hidden-Motives-Everyday/dp/0190495995</ref> | ||
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Dominant individuals smile less, perhaps to maintain the threat of their dominance and because it acts as a costly signal of their status in that they do not need to fear being judged nor needing to signal compliance. | Dominant individuals smile less, perhaps to maintain the threat of their dominance and because it acts as a costly signal of their status in that they do not need to fear being judged nor needing to signal compliance. | ||
Higher levels of testosterone are associated with dominant behavior and less smiling.<ref>Dabbs, J. M. (1997). Testosterone, smiling, and facial appearance.Journal of NonverbalBehavior,Vol.21,pp.45-55</ref> Also, smaller (less dominant) football players displayed more smiling than larger (more dominant) football players (F(1.41, 38.10) = 111.80, partial η² = .81).<ref>http://doi.org/10.1177/147470491201000301</ref> | Higher levels of testosterone are associated with dominant behavior and less smiling.<ref>Dabbs, J. M. (1997). Testosterone, smiling, and facial appearance.Journal of NonverbalBehavior,Vol.21,pp.45-55</ref> Also, smaller (less dominant) football players displayed more smiling than larger (more dominant) football players (F(1.41, 38.10) = 111.80, partial η² = .81).<ref>[https://doi.org/10.1177/147470491201000301 http://doi.org/10.1177/147470491201000301]</ref> | ||
Men smile less than women because men have higher status and women are more low status, agreeable and compliant, presumably related to women's more child-like, shorter and weaker stature.<ref>LaFrance, M., Hecht, M. A.,andLevy Paluck, E. (2003). The contingentsmile: A meta-analysis of sexdifferences in smiling.PsychologicalBulletin,Vol.129,pp.305–334</ref> In social encounters women smile 87%, but men only in 67% of the time. | Men smile less than women because men have higher status and women are more low status, agreeable and compliant, presumably related to women's more child-like, shorter and weaker stature.<ref>LaFrance, M., Hecht, M. A.,andLevy Paluck, E. (2003). The contingentsmile: A meta-analysis of sexdifferences in smiling.PsychologicalBulletin,Vol.129,pp.305–334</ref> In social encounters women smile 87%, but men only in 67% of the time. | ||
In portrait photographs from high school and university yearbooks, women do not smile 8% of the time, but men do not smile 41% of the time.<ref>https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00287672</ref> | In portrait photographs from high school and university yearbooks, women do not smile 8% of the time, but men do not smile 41% of the time.<ref>https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00287672</ref> | ||
===Laughing=== | ===Laughing=== | ||
Laughing seems to have multiple functions most of which overlap with the function of smiling. Laughing is used to signal absence of threat. Absence of threat can mean that oneself is not a threat, i.e. a low status signal. | Laughing seems to have multiple functions most of which overlap with the function of smiling. Laughing is used to signal absence of threat. Absence of threat can mean that oneself is not a threat, i.e. a low status signal. | ||
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Less dominant people likely also accommodate their laughter to the voice pitch and style of their higher status partners and of the group, as it is the case with voice in general. | Less dominant people likely also accommodate their laughter to the voice pitch and style of their higher status partners and of the group, as it is the case with voice in general. | ||
===Blushing=== | ===Blushing=== | ||
Just like smiling and looking away, blushing appears to signal submission/compliance/appeasement, with a wish not to receive more attention and judgement, basically acceptance of low status. | Just like smiling and looking away, blushing appears to signal submission/compliance/appeasement, with a wish not to receive more attention and judgement, basically acceptance of low status. | ||
Blushing can also be caused by anger though (adrenaline rush causing high blood pressure), as well as by sexual arousal (also due to increased blood pressure), both of which the fight or flight response (historically sex was possibly quite dangerous and might have involved fending contending males who overheard the [[female orgasm|woman's moaning and mating calls]], who knows). | Blushing can also be caused by anger though (adrenaline rush causing high blood pressure), as well as by sexual arousal (also due to increased blood pressure), both of which the fight or flight response (historically sex was possibly quite dangerous and might have involved fending contending males who overheard the [[female orgasm|woman's moaning and mating calls]], who knows). | ||
===Looks=== | ===Looks=== | ||
{{main_article|[[Beauty]]}} | {{main_article|[[Beauty]]}} | ||
A single glance of 100 ms is sufficient to form reliable, consensual first impressions about social status (α = .90 to .95 for male status, i.e. very high [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inter-rater_reliability inter-rater agreement]), suggesting that humans are hardwired to tell social status largely based on their looks.<ref>[https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550617732388 http://doi.org/10.1177/1948550617732388]</ref> | |||
A single glance of 100 ms is sufficient to form reliable, consensual first impressions about social status (α = .90 to .95 for male status, i.e. very high [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inter-rater_reliability inter-rater agreement]), suggesting that humans are hardwired to tell social status largely based on their looks.<ref>http://doi.org/10.1177/1948550617732388</ref> | |||
Inherited from primate ancestors, broader faces with a wider jaw and smaller ratio of eye size to face size and larger noses are also perceived as more dominant as these are gerontomorphic (i.e. non-neotoneous) and masculine features.<ref>https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.evolhumbehav.2007.05.002</ref> | Inherited from primate ancestors, broader faces with a wider jaw and smaller ratio of eye size to face size and larger noses are also perceived as more dominant as these are gerontomorphic (i.e. non-neotoneous) and masculine features.<ref>https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.evolhumbehav.2007.05.002</ref> | ||
Baby-faced round, soft and large-eyed, small-nosed faces are perceived as less dominant (weak and submissive).<ref>https://doi.org/10.1016%2F0022-1031%2887%2990045-x</ref> | Baby-faced round, soft and large-eyed, small-nosed faces are perceived as less dominant (weak and submissive).<ref>https://doi.org/10.1016%2F0022-1031%2887%2990045-x</ref> | ||
===Competence and intelligence=== | ===Competence and intelligence=== | ||
{{main_article|[[IQ]]}} | {{main_article|[[IQ]]}} | ||
Competence and intelligence are also a way of intimidating, though there is likely [[multiplicative utility]] with looks. Intelligence is often signaled by humor which is things that need some amount of filling the blank, but can be fluently processed<ref>https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1207/s15327957pspr0804_3</ref> yet aren't boring. Laughing is used to pay respect (i.e. admit someone higher intellectual status), but also to signal that one was able to process it oneself (thereby also displaying dominance in intellect). As in other status domains, people are very conservative in whom they admit higher status as this entails reduced [[reproductive success]] for oneself, so people rarely laugh e.g. at jokes made by someone of lower status. Appeasing to someone of high status can on the other hand increase reproductive success as it may admit access to more resources. | Competence and intelligence are also a way of intimidating, though there is likely [[multiplicative utility]] with looks. Intelligence is often signaled by humor which is things that need some amount of filling the blank, but can be fluently processed<ref>https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1207/s15327957pspr0804_3</ref> yet aren't boring. Laughing is used to pay respect (i.e. admit someone higher intellectual status), but also to signal that one was able to process it oneself (thereby also displaying dominance in intellect). As in other status domains, people are very conservative in whom they admit higher status as this entails reduced [[reproductive success]] for oneself, so people rarely laugh e.g. at jokes made by someone of lower status. Appeasing to someone of high status can on the other hand increase reproductive success as it may admit access to more resources. | ||
There is evidence that, historically, men have heavily competed in competence hierarchies, e.g. men performed a much more diverse range of technological tasks in forager societies and often tasks that were exclusively performed by men, whereas women focused on tasks near home and reconcilable with childcare.<ref>https://incels.wiki/w/Scientific_Blackpill_(Supplemental)#Women_were_historically_predominantly_involved_in_cooking_and_they_never_dominated_men</ref> | There is evidence that, historically, men have heavily competed in competence hierarchies, e.g. men performed a much more diverse range of technological tasks in forager societies and often tasks that were exclusively performed by men, whereas women focused on tasks near home and reconcilable with childcare.<ref>https://incels.wiki/w/Scientific_Blackpill_(Supplemental)#Women_were_historically_predominantly_involved_in_cooking_and_they_never_dominated_men</ref> | ||
===Bodily size and bulkiness=== | ===Bodily size and bulkiness=== | ||
[[File:Klkkkk.png|thumb|right|300px|<center>human female pornography</center>]] | [[File:Klkkkk.png|thumb|right|300px|<center>human female pornography</center>]] | ||
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Related signs of dominance are rapid gait, firm and strong stances, confident gesturing, as well as clothing or hair styles that create a bulkier appearance.<ref>https://doi.org/10.1016%2F0022-1031%2887%2990045-x</ref> | Related signs of dominance are rapid gait, firm and strong stances, confident gesturing, as well as clothing or hair styles that create a bulkier appearance.<ref>https://doi.org/10.1016%2F0022-1031%2887%2990045-x</ref> | ||
Bulky appearance is not perfectly correlated with actual strength, so it is conceivable human males have evolved bulky appearance to some extent merely as ornament to intimidate other males. | Bulky appearance is not perfectly correlated with actual strength, so it is conceivable human males have evolved bulky appearance to some extent merely as ornament to intimidate other males. | ||
===Material status=== | ===Material status=== | ||
In particular, men who display cues of wealth are regarded as more attractive and higher status by women.<ref>https://incels.wiki/w/Scientific_Blackpill#Photoshopping_a_man_into_a_luxury_apartment_made_women_rate_him_as_30.25_more_attractive</ref> As such, expensive cars, costly world travels etc. act as status symbols, enabling access to sex and social contacts (social resources). Women engage in material status signaling too, mainly [[Becky|to appear favorable]] among close female friends and to get access to Chad's social circles. | In particular, men who display cues of wealth are regarded as more attractive and higher status by women.<ref>https://incels.wiki/w/Scientific_Blackpill#Photoshopping_a_man_into_a_luxury_apartment_made_women_rate_him_as_30.25_more_attractive</ref> As such, expensive cars, costly world travels etc. act as status symbols, enabling access to sex and social contacts (social resources). Women engage in material status signaling too, mainly [[Becky|to appear favorable]] among close female friends and to get access to Chad's social circles. | ||
It has been suggested that the importance of men's signaling by such cues for sexual success is one factor preventing male engagement in low-consumption lifestyles.<ref>https://incels.wiki/w/Scientific_Blackpill#Women_are_1.2C000x_more_sensitive_than_men_to_economic_status_cues_when_rating_attractiveness</ref> The main factor is probably rather the Prisoner's dilemma that retreating tends to result in being taken advantage of by others who don't. | It has been suggested that the importance of men's signaling by such cues for sexual success is one factor preventing male engagement in low-consumption lifestyles.<ref>https://incels.wiki/w/Scientific_Blackpill#Women_are_1.2C000x_more_sensitive_than_men_to_economic_status_cues_when_rating_attractiveness</ref> The main factor is probably rather the Prisoner's dilemma that retreating tends to result in being taken advantage of by others who don't. | ||
===Violence=== | ===Violence=== | ||
{{main_article|[[Reproductive success#Violent_reproductive_strategies|Violent reproductive strategies]]}} | {{main_article|[[Reproductive success#Violent_reproductive_strategies|Violent reproductive strategies]]}} | ||
Raw violence is also a means of displaying dominance, in humans less so than in other animals. | Raw violence is also a means of displaying dominance, in humans less so than in other animals. | ||
==Dominance ranks in human males== | ==Dominance ranks in human males== | ||
[[File:Alphabeta5.png|thumb|300px|right]] | {{See also|[[Sigma male]]}}[[File:Alphabeta5.png|thumb|300px|right]] | ||
===Alpha males=== | ===Alpha males=== | ||
One can become an alpha by a dominance strategy (by aggression and intimidation), by a prestige strategy (by skill and reputation), or simply by [[Chad|good looks, muscularity and tallness]].<ref>https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1987-21883-001</ref><ref>https://www.academia.edu/14471033/Reproductive_strategies_and_relationship_preferences_associated_with_prestigious_and_dominant_men</ref> | One can become an alpha by a dominance strategy (by aggression and intimidation), by a prestige strategy (by skill and reputation), or simply by [[Chad|good looks, muscularity and tallness]].<ref>https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1987-21883-001</ref><ref>https://www.academia.edu/14471033/Reproductive_strategies_and_relationship_preferences_associated_with_prestigious_and_dominant_men</ref> | ||
Some alphas are tyrannical, but others are genuinely good people. Life is good for them, so they have little to gain from competitiveness having already achieved easy access to high quality females. Such alphas can rather strengthen their status by maintaining alliances with betas and avoiding [[beta uprising|beta male aggression]] against them. | Some alphas are tyrannical, but others are genuinely good people. Life is good for them, so they have little to gain from competitiveness having already achieved easy access to high quality females. Such alphas can rather strengthen their status by maintaining alliances with betas and avoiding [[beta uprising|beta male aggression]] against them. | ||
Examples for human alphas include: A fortune 500 CEO who marries a female underwear model, a rockstar with groupies, kings, gang leaders, almost any popular athlete, an unemployed good-looking thug who has [[women]] be his provider. Not all alphas are [[Chads]], for example [[Adolf Hitler]] was not excessively good looking, but very dominant. | Examples for human alphas include: A fortune 500 CEO who marries a female underwear model, a rockstar with groupies, kings, gang leaders, almost any popular athlete, an unemployed good-looking thug who has [[women]] be his provider. Not all alphas are [[Chads]], for example [[Adolf Hitler]] was not excessively good looking, but very dominant. | ||
===Beta males=== | ===Beta males=== | ||
{{main_article|[[Beta male]]}} | {{main_article|[[Beta male]]}} | ||
[[Beta]] males are moderately sexually successful and typically followers. They are usually subservient to alphas. | [[Beta]] males are moderately sexually successful and typically followers. They are usually subservient to alphas. Traditionally, they usually exchange loyalty to alphas in exchange for alphas not hoarding all the [[female]]s. However, modern day betas tend to not (vocally) care much about getting laid nor who is ruling them. [[Beta]] is a near synonym for "normie" or, "average male". They generally have to work to bribe women with resource/job security, unlike alphas. | ||
===Omega males=== | ===Omega males=== | ||
{{main_article|[[Omega male]]}} | {{main_article|[[Omega male]]}} | ||
Males who are totally unsuccessful with women are Omega males. They are often socially excluded and hence never get laid. | Males who are totally unsuccessful with women are Omega males. They are often socially excluded and hence never get laid. | ||
==Criticism== | ==Criticism== | ||
[[File:Erh.jpg|thumb]] | [[File:Erh.jpg|thumb]] | ||
There have been various criticisms of an overall dominance hierarchy in humans, with critics saying applying such animalistic concepts to humans is mostly or entirely pseudo-science.<ref>https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0165025407084054</ref> | There have been various criticisms of an overall dominance hierarchy in humans, with critics saying applying such animalistic concepts to humans is mostly or entirely pseudo-science.<ref>https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0165025407084054</ref> | ||
===Social domain variance and political construction=== | ===Social domain variance and political construction=== | ||
However, while critics say there is nothing pseudo-scientific or non-obvious about the fact that men differ in their social, romantic and material success, critics say that the platonic ideal of an 'alpha' is dubious due to the sheer number of social domains in which humans can or do engage in their lives, unlike less intelligent animals. For example, a D&D champ may be the alpha in a board game shop, but not in the lacrosse field. | However, while critics say there is nothing pseudo-scientific or non-obvious about the fact that men differ in their social, romantic and material success, critics say that the platonic ideal of an 'alpha' is dubious due to the sheer number of social domains in which humans can or do engage in their lives, unlike less intelligent animals. For example, a D&D champ may be the alpha in a board game shop, but not in the lacrosse field. Critics may have a hard time denying, however, that there exist people who exert control over entire populations, as well as those who are submissive to nearly everyone, due to their social status. Critics of dominance hierarchy theory often point to these positions as temporary [[Social constructionism|social constructions]], and not as fixed or genetic as dominance hierarchy theorists often imply. | ||
Critics of social dominance hierarchy theory may say that something like a sports star hogging dozens of women by virtue of male competition is more of a self-fulfilling prophesy in a social construction, and is not inevitable about humans, as many countries lack the degree of celebrity culture necessary for this to happen to the degree that it does in certain countries, or in times of resource scarcity. | Critics of social dominance hierarchy theory may say that something like a sports star hogging dozens of women by virtue of male competition is more of a self-fulfilling prophesy in a social construction, and is not inevitable about humans, as many countries lack the degree of celebrity culture necessary for this to happen to the degree that it does in certain countries, or in times of resource scarcity. | ||
===Adam Conover=== | ===Adam Conover=== | ||
U.S. comedian and TV host [[Adam Conover]] famously claimed "alpha males do not exist" and insinuated that the notion of an alpha male wasn't referenced in academia.<ref>''Adam Ruins Everything - Alpha Males Do Not Exist | truTV.'' 953,882 views (as of Fri 25 2019), Aug 4, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ti86veZBjU</ref> | U.S. comedian and TV host [[Adam Conover]] famously claimed "alpha males do not exist" and insinuated that the notion of an alpha male wasn't referenced in academia.<ref>''Adam Ruins Everything - Alpha Males Do Not Exist | truTV.'' 953,882 views (as of Fri 25 2019), Aug 4, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ti86veZBjU</ref> | ||
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as well as males with high sexual success.<ref>https://www.academia.edu/14471033/Reproductive_strategies_and_relationship_preferences_associated_with_prestigious_and_dominant_men</ref> | as well as males with high sexual success.<ref>https://www.academia.edu/14471033/Reproductive_strategies_and_relationship_preferences_associated_with_prestigious_and_dominant_men</ref> | ||
Sometimes ''alpha traits'' refer to traits associated with human male sexual success such as masculinity and extroversion.<ref>https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/697086v1.abstract</ref> | Sometimes ''alpha traits'' refer to traits associated with human male sexual success such as masculinity and extroversion.<ref>https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/697086v1.abstract</ref> | ||
===David Mech "Alpha wolf" retraction=== | ===David Mech "Alpha wolf" retraction=== | ||
While the notion of a human alpha male has a sporadic amount of academia associated, the concept is much more rooted in [[PUA]] figures such as [[RooshV]] and [[Vox Day]], making it dubious to those who think [[PUA]]s are wrong. | While the notion of a human alpha male has a sporadic amount of academia associated, the concept is much more rooted in [[PUA]] figures such as [[RooshV]] and [[Vox Day]], making it dubious to those who think [[PUA]]s are wrong. Critics of dominance hierarchy theory in humans point usually point to the person who coined the term, "Alpha", scientist David Mech, who said that his concept of an, "alpha wolf", was inaccurate due to further research and analysis. | ||
David later stated the concept he created did not describe the empirical phenomena he was attempting to describe | David later stated the concept he created did not describe the empirical phenomena he was attempting to describe.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20151023133410/http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2014/sep/24/my-bad-alpha-wolf-term-outmoded/</ref> | ||
David insists that "alpha wolves" didn't actually become dominant over men outside their 'pack', but that their dominance was only or mainly familial and born through non-competitive mating.<ref>Scientist David Mech addresses readers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNtFgdwTsbU</ref> He also said that the few wolves who would bear more offspring than others within a pack could more accurately be called 'dominant breeder' rather than 'alpha', as 'alpha' implies that male competition determined reproductive success, which he said was not accurate in wolves.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20151023133410/http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2014/sep/24/my-bad-alpha-wolf-term-outmoded/</ref> | |||
===Incel criticism=== | ===Incel criticism=== | ||
Some have argued that the Alpha/Beta/Omega hierarchy is illegitimate, in that it bases sexual success too much upon behavior and status instead of looks. [[Lookism]] theorists suggest using the Slayer/Incel hierarchy instead. Still the terminology could as well be used for social hierarchies that are primarily based on looks. | Some have argued that the Alpha/Beta/Omega hierarchy is illegitimate, in that it bases sexual success too much upon behavior and status instead of looks. [[Lookism]] theorists suggest using the Slayer/Incel hierarchy instead. Still the terminology could as well be used for social hierarchies that are primarily based on looks. | ||
The terms status, dominance, prestige, reputation, rank, popularity are all highly related. | The terms status, dominance, prestige, reputation, rank, popularity are all highly related. | ||
Some authors use dominance and status synonymously, other's don't.<ref>http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/beautiful-minds/201008/two-routes-social-status</ref><ref>http://www.quora.com/How-does-someone-show-dominance-in-a-subtle-way</ref> All of these terms involve the evaluation by others and likely all of them tie into innate human emotions and behaviors that regulate human hierarchies. | Some authors use dominance and status synonymously, other's don't.<ref>[https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/beautiful-minds/201008/two-routes-social-status http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/beautiful-minds/201008/two-routes-social-status]</ref><ref>[https://www.quora.com/How-does-someone-show-dominance-in-a-subtle-way http://www.quora.com/How-does-someone-show-dominance-in-a-subtle-way]</ref> All of these terms involve the evaluation by others and likely all of them tie into innate human emotions and behaviors that regulate human hierarchies. | ||
[[PUA|PUAs]] often use the term [[sexual market value]] in place of status. In the former [[PSL|PuaHate]] and [[PSL|SlutHate]] communities, the term "DOM" is usually used to describe a [[Chad|masculine face]], but it also could refer to a large build or social dominance. | [[PUA|PUAs]] often use the term [[sexual market value]] in place of status. In the former [[PSL|PuaHate]] and [[PSL|SlutHate]] communities, the term "DOM" is usually used to describe a [[Chad|masculine face]], but it also could refer to a large build or social dominance. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* [[Hypergamy]] | * [[Hypergamy]] | ||
* [[Beta]] | * [[Beta]] | ||
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* [[Testosterone]] | * [[Testosterone]] | ||
* [[Feminization]] | * [[Feminization]] | ||
[[Category:Theories]] | [[Category:Theories]] | ||
[[Category:Science]] | [[Category:Science]] | ||