From Alpha to Sigma: 6 Types of Men Named

According to scientists, all men are either alphas, bravos, deltas, gammas, omegas or sigmas. IDRlabs experts have developed a short test for the hierarchy of men, which shows which category each person belongs to, writes the Daily Mail.

"The typology of male social hierarchy has become part of internet culture and is a categorization system that sorts men into archetypes," IDRlabs explained. "This system has been variously called part of modern mythology, pseudoscience, and a wonderful heuristic for managing social relationships. Where would you fit in the male social hierarchy?"

The Male Hierarchy Test consists of 31 statements that respondents are asked to answer on a five-point scale ranging from disagree to agree. Statements include things like, "Being in debt doesn't bother me as long as I can see a way out," "I demand a lot from the people around me," and "I don't tend to panic easily." At the end of the test, the test tells you what personality type each man belongs to based on his answers.

1. Alpha Male: Alpha males are described as "the leaders of the male social hierarchy." These men are typically charismatic, decisive, and willing to take risks to achieve high positions, and are generally popular with women.

"They are the type of men that other men naturally want to follow," explains IDRlabs.

While alpha males in movies and TV are often portrayed as jocks who boss others around and enjoy telling them what to do, experts say that's not really the case. In fact, being an alpha male isn't all fun and games. "To maintain their position in the hierarchy, alpha males must cope with a huge burden of responsibility, as others look to them for guidance," IDRlabs explains. Alpha males also tend to be very protective of their status. "If an alpha feels threatened by someone challenging him or undermining his authority, he will strike back with impunity," the experts explain.

"On the other hand, alphas tend to be very friendly and generous towards those who support their leadership position."

Examples of alpha males from TV shows and movies include Captain America, Tommy Shelby from Peaky Blinders, and Maximus from Gladiator.

2. Bravo Men. According to IDRlabs, Bravo men are the “lieutenants” in the male social hierarchy. And contrary to popular belief, Bravos aren’t at the very bottom of the hierarchy — they’re actually closer to the top. “They’re typically found in close proximity to the alpha, where they act as his trusted advisors and fill important roles in the hierarchy,” the experts explain.

As loyal "employees" of the alpha, bravos also enjoy many of the benefits of high social status. "They tend to be popular with women and enjoy the privileges that come with their position, while avoiding the heavy burden of responsibility that alphas must bear," IDRlabs notes. "Because they don't have to constantly fight for their position like alphas, bravos can also afford to be a little friendlier with people."

While alpha males tend to get most of the glory, bravos are "crucial" to a stable hierarchy as they carry out the alpha's vision of maintaining order and structure.

Ron Weasley from Harry Potter and Samwise Gamgee from The Lord of the Rings are both examples of classic bravo males, notes the Daily Mail.

3. Delta Male: Delta males are described as the "workers" in the male social hierarchy. They are made up of "normal guys" who are not necessarily interested in competing for dominance, but instead take pride in "getting the job done."

"Deltas are also the type of people who are likely to move up or down the ladder as their skills develop, and their hard work makes them indispensable," IDRlabs said. However, this attitude can get them into trouble, the Daily Mail reports.

"Because Deltas tend to be outspoken and straightforward, expecting sincerity and integrity from others, they can sometimes be exploited by friends, family, or romantic partners who partner with Deltas to extract favors and resources from them, rather than because they like them," IDRlabs explained. "Deltas would do well to remember that their seriousness and resources are likely to attract freeloaders."

Delta males in television and film include Marty McFly from Back to the Future and Frodo Baggins from The Lord of the Rings.

4. Gamma Male. Gamma males are the "intellectuals" of the male social hierarchy. These men are typically "book smart," but lack the social skills, money, looks, or mental toughness needed to establish dominance. "Because intellect is their strong suit, gammas often overvalue the intellectual side of life, believing that it alone should determine who gets to the top," IDRlabs said. "Gammas often feel it's unfair that those who are intellectually inferior to them rise to the top."

Many gamma males see themselves as "secret kings" who should actually be in charge. But because they tend to be unhappy with their position, women tend to pick up on their discontent and ignore them, writes the Daily Mail.

"This could prevent gammas from realising their full potential, leaving them in a 'gamma trap'," experts warn.

Examples from TV and film include Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean, Tony Stark from Iron Man and Han Solo from Star Wars, according to the Daily Mail, but we think these are odd examples.

5. The Omega Male. At the bottom of the male social hierarchy is the omega male, the polar opposite of the alpha male. Often considered social outcasts, these men lack social skills and tend to be introverted and insecure. Often portrayed as nerds or geeks, omegas tend to cling to others due to a fear of being alone. Unfortunately, these personality traits usually mean they are unpopular, especially with women.

Peter Parker from Spider-Man and Walter Mitty from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty are classic examples of omega males.

6. Sigma Male. Finally, there are sigma males who eschew the male social hierarchy altogether. These "lone wolves" turn their backs on society's norms and instead forge their own path. This can make sigmas unpopular with alphas and bravos, who distrust them. However, among women, "sigmas" are usually popular.

"Women often find the self-determination and detachment of the sigma attractive, so sigma boys are more likely to be successful with the opposite sex," IDRlabs explained.

It's no surprise that sigmas are often romanticized in internet culture. "However, refusing to follow social orders is often a high-risk proposition, and success is not guaranteed," IDRlabs added. "However, it cannot be denied that when a sigma succeeds, their lifestyle acquires a certain charm and mystery."

James Bond, Bruce Wayne and John Wick are all examples of typical "sigma" men.