The myth of the alpha male: A new look at dominance-related beliefs and behaviors among adolescent males and females

TLDR

Evolutionary and biological theories posit that social dominance is largely a male trait, and that females who display non‑normative dominance are judged less favorably than similarly dominant males. The study tests the hypothesis that dominant males and females exhibit similar behavioral profiles and social reception, challenging the prevailing view of gendered dominance. Using a sample of 1,723 students in grades 5–10, the authors collected self‑ratings of aggression, social motivations, influence strategies, and related beliefs, complemented by peer ratings of influence strategies, aggression, and peer likability. Results show that socially dominant males and females employ both prosocial and coercive strategies, achieve positive peer regard despite aggression, and reveal a paradoxical link between peer regard and aggression, underscoring female competitiveness.

Abstract

Evolutionary and biological approaches tend to suggest that social dominance is predominately an aspect of male social organization. Furthermore, when females behave non-normatively, they are less positively evaluated than males engaging in the same behavior. Alternate, less familiar models of females and dominance/aggression underlie the present study which proposes that dominant males and females are more similar in both behavioral profile and social reception than commonly believed. Participants ( N = 1723; grades 5—10) self-rated their aggression, social motivations, and strategies and beliefs associated with interpersonal influence. Peer ratings of strategies of influence, aggression, and the degree to which peers were liked and disliked were also obtained. Results demonstrated that socially dominant males and females balance prosocial and coercive strategies and win positive peer regard, their aggressiveness notwithstanding. These findings highlight competitiveness in females and provide insights into the paradoxical relationship between positive peer regard and aggression (the peer regard—aggression paradox).