What Is Alpha Male Personality?
Alpha male personality is the type of personality that an archetypal alpha male, as defined by Vox Day’s socio sexual hierarchy, will develop and embody as they step up into the mature role of a full-fledged alpha male.
Keep in mind that Vox Day’s archetypes are a baseline for the alpha male type. But in this post and other posts I’ve published on this site, we are going to dig deeper into the question of how to become the absolute best and most effective alpha male possible.
Alpha Male Personality Explained
What is it, and why does it matter? Obviously, we all have different personality types… but there are some personality traits that all alpha males must learn to embrace.
In this post, you are going to learn 33 characteristics of a true alpha male.
You’re also going to learn the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about alpha males in-general.
Can Women Be Alphas?
The answer to this question is a resounding yes. In fact, if you read this post and insert ‘alpha female’ every time I say ‘alpha male,’ you will find that the journey is truly the same for any alpha minded human.
With that being said, this post is specifically dedicated to alpha male personality characteristics.
So let’s dig right in, and talk about the characteristics you need to take seriously if you actually want to level up in life and become a powerful, victorious, successful alpha male.
Alpha Male Characteristics And Psychology
The psychology of the alpha male is actually fairly simple.
It’s like an upside-down pyramid. At the base, you have one simple concept that drives your entire psychological makeup.
This would be self-sufficiency.
Self-sufficiency in all things is truly the key to unlocking the rest of the alpha male arsenal.
In fact, the first vow of the Oath Of Kings And Queens gets right to the heart of this matter.
“I vow to reclaim my power from the chaos outside of me.”
1st Vow, The Oath Of Kings And Queens
To a point, we do rely on other people. I rely on my electric company to keep up their end of the bargain when I pay my electric bill.
When I make a plan with someone to do something, I rely on them to show up when they say they will, etc.
But relying on people to hold up their end of a bargain, one that you have put your own resources into to hold your side up, is much different from relying on people to provide for you or to create happiness for you!
Tribe Mentality
After self-sufficiency, the next most important psychological component to the alpha male makeup is a tribe mentality.
An alpha male is defined by the success of his tribe.
He is not a lone wolf. He is a stoic, strong, passionate leader—and a true alpha will not be able to sit still for long without starting his own tribe and growing it from the ground up.
Your tribe may be your family, your business, your friend network, your workplace, some groups in your community that you invest in, etc.
An alpha male makes tribal investments to grow his tribes and help them succeed. And in return, he reaps many of the benefits that come from being at the top of the dominance hierarchy.
What Makes A Man Alpha?
This is the fundamental difference between an alpha and a beta.
- An alpha male says “I am taking my power back from the chaos around me by taking responsibility for my life, destiny, and choices. I am in control, as much as is in my power… and this brings me purpose and happiness.”
- The beta male, on the other hand, would say “I feel like I don’t have any power in my life. People always let me down. If only the people and structures around me would change the way they behave to meet my expectations. Then I would be happy.”
This self-sufficiency really sets the tone for what sets the alpha apart from the beta (In my opinion, anyway. Vox Day categorizes betas differently).
And it ends up expanding out into all kinds of different alpha male characteristics that all lead back to those base senses of self-responsibility and the tribal leader mentality.
Alpha Male Personality In Relationships
In relationships, alpha men will conduct themselves according to their priorities.
But they will always… ALWAYS… prioritize things as they see fit. They create their own destiny—they do not wait around for destiny to happen to them.
“I vow to love myself truly and firstly, and to set others free from the requirement to do the same.”
-2nd Vow, The Oath Of Kings And Queens
This doesn’t mean that the alpha always puts himself first, or that he always puts others first.
It means that he creates a delicate balance in life, wherein he always prioritizes himself first, so that he can adequately prioritize his tribal investments and step up into the role of being a fully capable leader.
Many people make the mistake of thinking that the alpha is only out for ‘number one.’ But a true alpha understands that his greatest asset is the tribe.
He’s a stoic leader who isn’t afraid to hedge his bets on his tribe.
Why? Because he believes in the power of people working together. And the alpha’s role in this is to provide strong, solid, wise, empathic, effective leadership to those who choose to journey through life along with him.
This is the alpha male’s true purpose.
“I vow to adopt and follow my own true purpose… that it may act to shield me from the chaos around me, and give me the strength and direction to live out my days pursuing something meaningful… and to leave a lasting legacy for those who follow me.”
-17th Vow, The Oath Of Kings And Queens
What Is A Beta Male Personality?
I do not necessarily stick to Vox Day’s socio sexual hierarchy when I talk about alpha men and beta men.
Instead, I quantify everything down to the ‘alpha’ mindset and the ‘beta’ mindset. I find that this is simple and useful for helping men and women to understand their own self-development as alphas.
The alpha stands in stark contrast to the beta, who expects the people around him to give of themselves to make him happy and see to his needs.
The alpha male personality, by contrast, sees every relationship and interaction as transactional.
He is investing in other people because he believes that this will produce the highest benefit—not only for himself, but also for those he invests in.
He doesn’t think that anyone owes him anything. He believes that if he wants to find success, he will need to create it for himself.
Whereas a beta may complain, get butthurt, or whine about how everyone around him is selfish for not doing what he thinks they should be doing.
Another key fundamental difference between an alpha male personality and a beta male is this…
An alpha male will solve problems, and not complain about them… whereas a beta male will complain, bitch, and whine.
In other words, to put it in the simplest terms, an alpha male refuses to complain, and takes action to shape his destiny—whereas a beta mindset man will complain, and hope that someone will come along and change things for him.
“I vow to never again allow a complaint or a confession of weakness to be issued from my mouth.”
– 3rd Vow, The Oath Of Kings And Queens
What Is The Omega Male?
There are different schools of thought on exactly what an Omega Male is.
But to put it very simply, an Omega Male is the exact opposite of an Alpha, in every single way.
The difference between a beta and an omega is that at least the beta male wants what the alpha male has, even though he struggles to maintain the proper mindset.
But Omega Males are men who truly have no desire to achieve anything notable or worthwhile in their life.
They are essentially men who have totally given up in life. They believe that they are doomed to fail, so trying is basically a waste of time.
They do not care about a greater purpose, they give up on trying to succeed with women, and they may even be angry and feel severely disenfranchised with not only women, but also society as a whole.
They have deep-seated feelings of inferiority and loneliness that they hide with hobbies and other distractions.
But they also have massive feelings of entitlement, because they believe that the universe owes them something—and they are resentful that they don’t get what they want automatically, without doing the work.
The guy who never has any money, never spends time with high-quality women, never has anything of interest or value to bring to the table, who barely pays his bills, who never seems to have any aspirations to challenge himself at anything or level up his life in any significant or meaningful way… that is usually the Omega Male.
They are, quite literally, at the bottom of most social dominance hierarchies. Most women are repulsed by them, and they have a very self-defeating mindset.
Alpha Male Personality In Lifestyle
Many people imagine that the alpha male lifestyle is one of womanizing, maxing out credit cards, starting sleazy businesses, lying to women for quick, cheap sex, etc.
They see ‘alpha men’ as bachelors with too many issues to hold down a real relationship. In fact, this stereotype is perpetuated by the mainstream media in many cases—such as in popular sitcoms and TV shows.
When you mention ‘alpha male’ to someone who doesn’t know any better, they may imagine a broken man who has been so hurt by women that he cannot bear to open up to them anymore… so he sleeps around and drinks sadly by himself when he is alone, because he is too ‘damaged’ to hold down a ‘traditional family.’
But this idea is absolute bullshit, and could not be further from the truth.
This absolutely describes a beta male mentality… not a true alpha male.
The alpha male personality and lifestyle is one of purpose, power, and fulfillment.
If an alpha man wants a woman, he finds one to add to his already awesome life… and has no problem with it, since high value women will literally be lined up the block to date him.
He accomplishes his goal. And if the goal proves difficult, he levels-up his skills and abilities to master it.
“I vow never to relent in anything that I set my mind to… only to adapt, and never to the detriment of forward progress.”
– 16th Vow, The Oath Of Kings And Queens
If he wants to earn more money, he doesn’t sit around and complain that his boss doesn’t pay him more.
He puts on his best suit, creates an awesome resume, and either starts looking for the job he wants, or he starts his own business and takes even more direct control over his finances.
This is the alpha male lifestyle. Responsibility, purpose, excellence, tenacity, determination… and a refusal to settle for the mediocrity that most other people settle for out of comfort.
This is what it means to be an alpha man.
What about the rest of it? What about women, drinking, partying, nice watches, hobbies, and nice cars?
These are just extras that he adds on when he wants them… though he is careful not to make unwise decisions about them.
The Alpha Male Seeks Wisdom
He knows that going into too much debt is unwise. He knows that entering into a relationship with a woman who is unstable, is unwise. He knows that drinking and partying, instead of building his business and working toward his goals, is unwise.
“I vow to always pursue wisdom in my actions, and to refrain from acting rashly… that I may find balance, and calculate the risks and probabilities of my endeavors with as much accuracy and forethought as possible.”
– 4th Vow, The Oath Of Kings And Queens
So he works, grinds, levels-up, and betters himself until he is ready to make his move and achieve the things he desires.
And in doing so, his life is not a chaotic, random mess that relies on luck and good fortune for success.
Rather, it is a well structured, organized masterpiece… where sufficient time is given each and every day to the priorities that he has set for himself.
What Is Alpha Behavior? 33 Characteristics Of The True Alpha Male Personality, Explained
Now that we’ve discussed some of the fundamental differences between an alpha male and a beta male, let’s go a bit more in-depth to talk about the 33 most important characteristics of the true alpha male personality.
1. Self Sufficiency
Above all other things, a true alpha male is self-sufficient. He takes care of himself and takes responsibility for himself… and doesn’t expect anyone else to take this task upon themselves.
2. Self Love
Being able to love yourself, despite whatever anyone else thinks of you, is a huge strength. An alpha male learns how to cultivate his own self-love, and does not need love or admiration from other people to feel completely secure in himself.
3. Responsibility
An alpha takes his responsibilities very seriously. He doesn’t waste his time or resources on trivial things that will not contribute meaningfully to his life.
He is aware of his priorities, and he keeps himself in line with them at all times.
4. Self Empowerment
The true alpha can motivate and empower himself. He doesn’t require the support of anyone else to get done what needs to be done, because he stands securely upon his own two feet.
This is not to say that he is not grateful when other people do help. It just means that he knows, at the end of the day, that he is going to do everything he must to see that what needs to be done is done.
And he is confident in this.
5. Wisdom
An alpha male does his best to exercise wisdom in all situations. Not all situations are easy to deal with. But an alpha will calculate his odds, weigh the risks, and choose the option that he sees as the most logical, rational option.
He also deploys massive wisdom when dealing with the tribe. He behaves rationally, empathetically, and with great kindness to make sure that his tribal investments are producing the best results.
He wants to be a wise, effective leader for his tribe.
6. Restraint
An alpha male will be able to restrain himself from doing things that could bring harm to himself or others.
He does not behave rashly. He behaves with careful consideration.
He is also patient, understanding, and strives to maintain control of his temper and emotional reactions at all times.
7. Balance
Balance is important to a true alpha. He knows that he needs to behave with the proper amounts of aggression and gentleness. If the scales tip too far in either direction, he knows that he will be much less effective.
He also balances self-priority with tribal investments. He knows that he must prioritize his tribe—but he is also careful to make sure that he takes care of himself so that he can meet these requirements and responsibilities when the time comes.
8. Bravery
Fear is almost never an emotion to obey. The true alpha knows that fear is a path to suffering.
If you are too afraid to do the things you want and need to do… you will always suffer, both from the regret of allowing your fear to hold you back, and from the chaos caused by your inability to act effectively.
There is no room in an alpha male’s life to succumbing to fear.
9. Kindness
Learning to be kind, even in difficult circumstances, requires great strength. It is also very wise. Learning when to be kind, and being able to engage this behavior at-will, is a key strength for powerful alphas.
10. Respectfulness
True, calculating, rational, wise alphas know that there is almost never anything to be gained from behaving disrespectfully.
Even when addressing your worst enemy, it is almost always better to stay calm, rational, and respectful.
11. Intentionality
The effective alpha male personality chooses his life and path with intention. He lives on purpose. He is not tossed to and fro by the chaos or whims of life.
He lives according to a set order that he chooses, and he keeps chaos at bay by working against it to create something meaningful for himself and his tribe.
12. Strength of Character
A powerful alpha will remain who he truly is, regardless of who is watching.
This is, in part, because he desires to live honestly. But it is also because he knows that integrity is a great strength that will lead to success.
He can be relied upon to be himself in all situations. This inspires great trust from his tribe, and makes him the kind of leader that others can believe in.
13. Self Ownership
A powerful alpha owns his role in failures, just as he accepts the victories that he deserves credit for.
Learning to admit your shortcomings, and not being afraid to own up to mistakes, is part of the growth process.
Alpha men know this. This is another part of their archetype that inspires trust and belief from the tribe. A tribe will greatly respect a leader who owns his mistakes and works to correct them.
14. Gratitude
A truly powerful man always behaves with an attitude of gratitude. He does not waste time bitching and moaning about what he doesn’t like.
The alpha male solves problems. He doesn’t waste time complaining about them.
And he behaves with true gratitude for all of the good things that are happening to him—even when the chips are down.
This is a powerful mindset that most men don’t understand. When you deploy gratitude in your life, your perspective undergoes a massive change—and you become so much more powerful.
15. Honesty
A powerful man will not be afraid to be his true self.
Avoidance, passive aggression, small convenient lies… these have no place in an alpha male’s life. He is honest, direct, and not afraid to speak his true mind in all circumstances.
This also goes back to being a leader. Your tribe needs to be able to rely on you to be straight with them. A leader who avoids problems and never comes out and says what needs to be said is ineffective, weak, and chaotic.
This is not the alpha way.
16. Not Afraid Of Healthy Conflict/Confrontation
A true alpha is not afraid of healthy conflict.
He knows that conflict and confrontation must take place if relationships are going to remain effective and healthy, and he knows that the best way to handle these situations is head-on… with an adequate balance of rationality, understanding, and patience used to offset the high-emotions that others may bring to the table.
Alpha males look at problems as opportunities. And the best way to deal with them is to sit down, bring them to light, and talk about solutions.
17. Excellence
Chasing excellence is another core tenant of the alpha male journey. Stagnation is not a trait that alphas will tolerate in themselves. We strive for excellence, attempting to constantly become better at the things we care about.
18. Self-Improvement
True alphas will never stop trying to improve themselves.
Whether it is hitting the gym, learning a new skill, or practicing better habits, they will always be pushing themselves to gain an edge and become better versions of themselves.
19. Leadership
Effective leadership is something that every alpha takes very seriously.
Strong leadership can often make the difference between a successful project and a failed one.
And the strongest alpha in the room will know when the time is right for him to assume the leadership role, and step up to lead the people who depend on him.
Leadership is so fundamental to the alpha male that it isn’t even optional.
If you wish to be a true alpha, and you wish to truly change the world, you must learn how to be a wise and effective leader.
20. Ambition
Alpha males are ambitious. They will always be looking ahead, planning, and strategizing to make things better.
They want to better not only themselves, but also their lives and the lives of the people around them. And they’re not afraid to make the necessary moves to get it done.
21. He Pushes Himself
A strong, powerful alpha always pushes himself. He knows that if he sits down to rest and gets lazy, he will stop growing and stagnate.
There is no rest for the true apex alpha. He is always pushing himself… always on the hunt… always planning and executing to further his goals and the success of his tribe, even if it requires him to sacrifice things that other people may not be willing to give up.
22. Loyalty
Alphas understand loyalty. And while they don’t necessarily rely on the people around them for their own happiness and well-being, they also know that there is great strength in numbers.
They also know that it is wise to foster loyalty amongst the trustworthy people in their tribe, and they will never turn their back on their true friends or loved ones.
They can be trusted, and they can be counted on to be true to their word.
23. Orderliness
I often say that the state of your house/car is a reflection of the state of your life. And a true alpha male knows this.
This is why powerful men often take direct control of their surroundings first before they try to go on and solve more complex problems.
They make sure that their dishes get done, their bed gets made, their clothes get cleaned, etc.
Create order. Start with yourself, and work outward from there.
24. Rationality
A true alpha is rational. He allows reason to guide his decisions, striving to avoid reacting out of emotion or chaos.
He understands that logic and reason are the tools we use to hold chaos at bay—and chaos, while fun in short controlled bursts, is the most destructive force in our lives.
25. Relentlessness
A strong alpha will be relentless in the pursuit of his goals. He’s like a predator on the hunt when it comes to succeeding at the things he cares about.
He doesn’t give up lightly. Instead, when faced with difficulty, he will find ways to adapt and overcome. He knows what he wants, and he will not be easily swayed.
He learns from his mistakes and applies those lessons to make sure that, next time, his odds of success increase.
26. He Has A Purpose
A powerful alpha male will live life with a clearly defined purpose.
He knows what he wants out of life, he knows what he desires, and he is not afraid to pursue it. He is not confused, because he already knows what he wants the end-game to look like.
He has a vision, and this brings great meaning to his life.
27. He Strives To Leave A Lasting Legacy
The strongest men don’t just consider their own conscious perceptions when they prioritize their lives.
They also consider what legacy they will be leaving for others after their time is over.
They care about humanity, their children, and the world they leave behind. This is part of choosing order over chaos, and is a prime directive for truly powerful alpha men.
28. He Is Patient
A true alpha will always behave with patience. He knows that by waiting, biding his time, and thinking things through, he will be that much more prepared to do what needs to be done.
Acting rashly is what fools do, and will only lead to further chaos.
29. He Doesn’t Get Caught Up In Petty Drama
Gossiping, reputation destruction, and petty arguments are below the alpha male.
He will not allow himself to get pulled into such trivial human activities. They are a waste of his time and energy, and he makes sure to set boundaries in his life against such behavior.
30. He Holds Himself To The Highest Standards
A powerful alpha will always demand the highest performance from himself.
This is why he constantly pushes himself to be the best, strongest, most powerful man in the room. When he realizes that other men are better, he sets his sights higher and starts climbing to catch up and overtake them.
He understands that Rome was not built in a day. But he also knows that constant effort and positive habits shape his destiny.
And he works on them every day.
31. He Masters His Guilt
Guilt is a useless emotion that will destroy a weak man and leave him torn apart.
An alpha male knows never to succumb to this. Guilt serves such a small purpose in the grand scheme of humanity that, by the time you feel its initial pangs, it has already done its job.
The alpha knows that anything more than this is wasted effort, and he shuts it down through sheer powers of focus and discipline.
A weak man caves-in to his guilt. An alpha upholds what he knows to be right.
32. He Is Not Afraid To Go To War, Though He Will Do Everything In His Power To Make Peace
A wise man will always strive for peace, because warfare is always a great waste of effort and resources.
But make no mistake! When he is left with no other reasonable options, an alpha male will always make a formidable opponent, regardless of what ‘form’ the warfare has taken.
An alpha is a dangerous man who understands how to restrain himself from hurting others. That is the difference between a powerful man and a weak man. He is a creature of violence… who only lives peacefully by willing himself to do so.
33. He Is Aware Of His Mortality, And Understands That Today Is The Day To Live Gloriously
An alpha male understands that death will eventually come for him. This gives him great clarity and peace, and helps to bring great meaning to his daily life.
He uses this impending sense of mortality to fuel his efforts, not wanting to waste a single day or opportunity… because everything in our lives is limited by our own human mortality.
How Do You Develop An Alpha Personality?
The best way to develop an alpha personality is through practice, studying, mindfulness, and good habits.
You must become self-aware enough to realize where you are falling short of true alpha personality. And then, you need to work on developing those personality traits so that you can fully realize them and step into them in your own life.
What Are The Qualities Of An Alpha Male?
Alpha males must embody many qualities. These include self-sufficiency, a tribe mentality, an ambitious work ethic, an attitude of action, and strong leadership qualities.
You must also be committed to self-improvement, self-awareness, and the importance of continuing to level yourself up in mind, body, and spirit—becoming at least 1% better than the man you were yesterday!
Do Alpha Males Have Feelings?
Yes, alpha males absolutely have feelings. But the difference between the alpha and the beta is that alpha males do not allow their feelings to control their actions.
They will have enough self-awareness to understand what they desire. And then, they will deploy massive self-control and pursue what they desire with rationality and logic.
In all things, they seek to hold back the chaos that threatens to bring ruin and destruction into their lives, and the lives of their tribal family.
This is how a true alpha handles his feelings—with wisdom, self-awareness, restraint, and empathy.
How Do You Deal With An Alpha Male Personality?
If you must deal with someone who has an alpha personality, the best course of action is to follow their lead.
If they are a true, capable alpha, they will appreciate your willingness to help. They will also appreciate your input—though they will not stand for dissent, back-handed passive aggression, or a poor attitude/work ethic.
If you can’t manage your attitude and keep a handle on your emotions, then you are headed straight toward a conflict with the alpha—and he will either make sure that you can get with the program, or will ask you to walk away.
In Conclusion
Hopefully, this post has done a fair job of showing you what the alpha male personality is, how to embrace it, and how to start tapping into your own inner alpha male strength.
It takes work, dedication, and trial and error to walk this path. These changes do not happen overnight.
But if you can stick with these personality traits, and cultivate them in your own life, then you can move closer and closer to the ideal goals that you’ve placed for yourself… and that is actually a mark of true progress.
So keep striving for excellence, go with grace, and never give up your power!
Until next time…
Joshua K. Sigafus.