Ethologists - scientists who observe the behavior of social animals - have long wondered why the members of the herd or flock obey the leader?As revealed an alpha male?And on what grounds within the animal community is established rigid linear hierarchy?When it comes to single male with a harem (as, for instance, in the chick), then and there, scientists, and before them, and countless generations of farmers who have observed the same hierarchy, but prevailing among females.By the way, this term was first applied it to the chicken, that is a female.In 1922, Norwegian scientist Shyeldruppom-Ebbe has formulated the "rule of the first pecking."First meal starts with feeding the chickens alpha female, then - beta, gamma and so on, to omega.Trying to subordinate the individual to take the grain before immediately suppressed peck in the head by a superior.
monkeys, where the pack has a few male and many females with cubs (including to the grown sons) is also clearly seen the dominant alpha male.The signs of his power expressed in external features: sex hormones encourage the growth of tusks, brightly colored ischial callosities (in some species).Basically, his high position evinces an animal during mating.They keep a watchful eye that no other member of the community - neither young nor come - did not apply to his harem.However, in the life of a monkey pack it takes a minimum participation - where to go to feed solves the veteran female.
Another hierarchy is observed in a pack of wolves.David Mech, for several years have seen their behavior, also argues that the discipline, cohesion and collective organization is largely dependent on the personality of the leader.Alpha male - the wolf is the pack on the hunt, the first treads the path in deep snow, raise community to rest, chooses the path of migration.Because these animals - are monogamous and, basically, animal family, keeping faithful partners in the pack combine both males and females.Thus, in a pack formed two hierarchical lines - male and female.By the way, sometimes playing the role of pack leader and a wolf.
Wolves, unlike primate alpha male evinces open aggression is rare.To maintain the order of the whole system uses sounds and gestures (showing of fangs, feinted, peeing over the place where defecated rival).Besides, the leader never pretend to pack all the wolves: beta and gamma individuals also give birth to offspring.The only exceptions are male-omega, which is also called biological castrati.But this is not at the initiative of the dominant leader, and because of all the "ladies" in the school denied this in the vicinity.
observations of social behavior (herd or combined together for hunting) animals led people to believe that in human society, the same mechanisms as in the pack.After all, Homo sapiens emerged from the womb of nature, and is, in fact, highly organized animals.These parallels between the behavior of animals and people in their communities led to the emergence of various theories (eugenics, social Darwinism, and others.), Based on the fact that the alpha male will inevitably take a leadership role.Especially because in the history of mankind, we find many examples where some social groups emphasized their dominant position hairstyles, clothes and other signs of severely punishing individuals of lower rank for following such a fashion.Suffice it to recall the ban purple for the plebs in ancient Rome or the caste system in India.
But in human society, unlike animals, are more complex mechanisms.We are seeing at home, rather the dominance of certain clans or groups, than a show of force of the men.Even if the "alpha male" strengthen their position in society, he - by strictly acting in human society inheritance - it will give children who can not be alpha individuals, and gamma and even omega.If talk about the qualities of leadership, "the leader", they can develop with age, upbringing and education.If, as they incorrectly assume alpha corrosive, it is the quality of the human community to quickly puts such a person outside the law and gives it the role of a pariah.As we can see, the image of "alpha" in relation to a man more tense, but continues to be cultivated: the so-called "machismo" (from the word macho - a real man).
