Synonyms
Definition
The ranked order of males within a group.
Introduction
The terms alpha, beta, and gamma male are typically used to describe an individual’s position within a social hierarchy. In linear hierarchies, alpha males are the highest-ranking males within a group, followed by beta, and then gamma males. While this section is focused on male social status, it should be noted that females can also form strong social hierarchies. Dominance hierarchies can commonly be found in taxa exhibiting group living, where frequent conflict among individuals can occur. Individual rank can be used to predict the outcome of agonistic interactions between males and thus be used to deter some of these aggressive encounters. This section will discuss some examples of how these terms are used across a variety of taxa.
Nonhuman Primates
Much of the research on dominance hierarchies comes from studies on nonhuman primates. In these groups, a male’s rank...
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References
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Partridge, C. (2017). Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Males. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2695-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2695-1
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