This is another placeholder for future consideration. Things or phenomena exist whether or not we have named them or labeled them, or even have a name and definition for them. The labels are of course necessary to some extent to broaden our understanding of how and why things happen as they happen but they can be limiting as well when we depend too much on them for whatever reason.
Social structures or group structures are no exception. We’ve a glossary of labels and definitions to assist us in outlining who all the players are in any particular situation or dynamic. We are all familiar with the term alpha-male and to some extent the beta. There is really no need to get into the definition of the alpha as we’ve all witnessed him in action. I might argue that I’ve seen more men very self-consciously playing the role of the alpha than I’ve seen true alphas. The other men in these situations, while not betas by definition (and in some cases perhaps the true alphas in most aspects of their lives) are often content to let the children play, so to speak. They’re just not so invested in the group that they’re going to challenge the jerks.
Most of the terms, alpha, beta, gamma, delta, omega and now sigma, are misused by their classic definitions (and we almost never use gamma, delta and omega) and alpha is perhaps the most overused. I’m not really concerned with the over-stretched definition or even the definition of alpha. We just know what it’s supposed to mean and what the behaviors are. It’s the last two, omega and sigma, that concern me at the moment.
There have been periods in my life when beta may have described my “pack-standing” but unlike a coyote or wolf-pack we tend to grow and outgrow as time moves along. I’ve been described a couple times in recent years as an omega, and that may apply to some extent. Let’s look at the definition:
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/buzzword/entries/omega-male.html
It really can’t be denied that some of these characteristics are part and parcel of my life. This has become especially true as I age out of a lot of pack situations. My role in many heterogenous groups has moved towards being a sort of elder statesman, and that suits me fine. I’m excluded from many group activities by proxy of age, and that’s fine too, but this is where the definition doesn’t really fit. I’ve already excluded myself and have done so even before the natural progression of age. There’s rarely been a time in my life when I haven’t been skating along the peripheries of several packs at the same time. Where does that put me? Delta? Gamma? I would need to read more about that.
The label or definition that might be more applicable at this stage in my life might be the sigma male. Check it:
https://www.aconsciousrethink.com/9304/sigma-males/
It’s pretty fitting, and especially this part:
“10. Smart cookie– this touches upon their analytic nature, and is pretty self-explanatory. This type of lone wolf is always hungry for information, be it factual or behavior about his peers.
Sigma males tend to be very intelligent as they have a mind that loves to digest all types of information – they tend to have a strong memory for facts and stats, but could probably read anybody from just one glance.
They’re not as emotionally aware as many beta males, but they’ve got a pretty good grasp on people’s behaviors and feelings just by observing them.”
This doesn’t really require much thought. It’s merely a curiosity as I haven’t read a lot about the sigma and I don’t even know if it’s a new term or something from animal behavior studies. I don’t recall seeing it before. Also, the danger of taking it too much to heart is that it could lead to unconsciously playing a role defined by the description. That’s what we, as people, tend to do. We refer to our glossaries… to our limited vocabularies… and too often use that as a measure for what exists and what doesn’t exist. We decide that if we are not this, then we must certainly be that. But again, there is a world of things and phenomena that we don’t have words for but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. This is just a placeholder for consideration in the long-standing search for the great WHOAMI.
The answer is very vague really, and that’s not a bad thing. I am all the things that I have words and definitions for, and all the greater many thing that I have none for. The behaviors I get up to today will largely be defined by the roles I have to play to navigate the situations I find myself in. There is a lesson in this. We’re all forced to some extent to flow like water through our days.
Remain fluid.
What rough beast 