He is the rare type, with peculiar and quirky habits. The traditional Alpha male considers him “challenging” because he has no regard for rules or social conventions. He is independent and self-sufficient but highly seductive and sexually arousing when gaming women. He is a Sigma male.
What is a Sigma personality?
A wildlife biologist named David Mech studied how wolves behave in a pack. Based on the hierarchical nature of the pack, the male wolves take up different roles, such as Alpha, Beta, Gamma, or Omega. Alpha males are characterized as dominant leaders, whereas Beta males are subservient and usually do the Alphas’ bidding. The Gamma and Omega male also have their own distinct personality types. Psychologists have observed similar patterns in human behavior, with male humans also divided broadly into similar personality types.
There is, however, a separate and distinct type of male—the Sigma male.
What is a Sigma male? The Sigma male definition is quite complicated. Unlike Alphas, Betas, Gammas, or Omegas, a Sigma personality disregards hierarchical norms. The life of a Sigma male is characterized by rebellion and redefinition. They can be innovators, entrepreneurs, freelancers, or digital nomads—the types that go against the mainstream. They choose to live on the fringes rather than in the slave camp of Alpha.
Sigma males exist outside of the duality of Alpha and Beta. They are neither content to be subordinate nor do they strive to be dominant—they reject the hierarchy altogether and live life on their own terms. A Sigma wolf feels no need to be a part of the pack to survive, and a Sigma man is much the same!
Different male types: what makes the Sigma male stand out
In recent years, the Sigma male has sparked more increased interest when studied from the perspective of coupling and dating because of his behavior.
While the Alpha male initially seems desirable due to his ability to stand out, it is often the lone wolf, the introvert, and the rebel Sigma male who becomes attractive to women.
Alpha male shares the qualities of leadership, charisma, and dominance with Sigma male. A stereotypical Alpha male works hard to maintain his social standing and requires Beta males around him that he can dominate. Meanwhile, Sigma male doesn’t care about his social presence. He can be popular and likable, but he can’t be tied down to any of the social structures for long.
The Alpha male shares the qualities of leadership, charisma, and dominance with the Sigma male. While A the stereotypical Alpha male works hard to maintain his social standing and requires Beta males around him that he can dominate, the Sigma male doesn’t care about his social presence. The Sigma male can be popular and likable, but he can’t be tied down to any of the traditional social structures for too long.
Unlike the Beta male, who hardly ever gets into the spotlight, the charismatic Sigma male can be in the center of attention, but only if he chooses to. If he thinks that the company he is in is boring, he will happily stay on the sidelines and will not waste his energy. He creates his own rules of the game, and he’s not worried if the others want to play along or not.
Famous Sigma males
There are a lot of Sigma male celebrities, as this personality type often leads to notable success and fame. Here are some of the Sigma male examples that you may recognize.
Giacomo Casanova, an Italian writer, and adventurer are perhaps one of the best examples of a Sigma male. Casanova grew up in poverty but managed to graduate from the University of Padua at the age of seventeen. During his service as a scribe to Cardinal Acquaviva, he asked for the Pope’s permission to read the “forbidden books,” eat fish and compose love letters for another cardinal. Quite expectedly, it ended his church career.
Casanova switched four professions in his life and challenged the authority figures of the day. Despite the contempt that he received, his autobiography is considered the most authentic source of European customs and traditions in the 18th Century.
In addition to his contributions to academia and history, Casanova also famously had a massive number of romantic escapades with women—to the extent that his surname is now synonymous with a “ladies’ man”! His success in his love life can probably be attributed to his Sigma characteristics.
Leonardo Da Vinci is another example of a Sigma male. Da Vinci made some of the greatest discoveries in sculpture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany, paleontology, and cartography. Almost all of his ideas, theories, and inventions were in contrast with or ahead of the knowledge of the time. Just take a look at his drawings of flying machines and the helicopter screw! The inventions that Da Vinci attempted to create were almost unimaginable at his age.
Da Vinci’s legacy is perhaps best summed up by the Mona Lisa—the most famous portrait in Western art history.
Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Inc., is also an example of a Sigma male. Famous for launching some of the most innovative products like the iMac, iPod, and iPhone, Jobs was known not only for his innovation and visionary leadership but also for his determination and free spirit.
You have almost definitely used an Apple product at some point in your life, and millions of people worldwide use them every day! Like Steve Jobs, many Sigma males are incredibly creative as well as technologically-minded. In fact, technology is one of the most common Sigma male careers out there. While some Sigma males end up making a lot of money, their main priority is usually creativity.
James Dean, an American actor, is a prime example of a Sigma male. Growing up in the 1940s and 1950s, he refused to conform to the strait-laced archetype of what society at the time believed that a young man should be. Although Dean was an exceptional student at school and had various talents, he became a figure of rebellion.
Despite handsome good looks and an undeniable air of traditional masculinity, James Dean rejected the role of Alpha male and instead took another path. With his iconic role in Rebel Without a Cause, he imprinted on America the ideas of youth identity and rebellion, which influenced the burgeoning rock and roll and Beat scenes.
David Bowie, a British singer-songwriter and performer, was one of the most iconic Sigma males in popular culture. Throughout his fifty-year career, Bowie rejected both the Alpha male’s traditional masculinity and the Beta male’s shy submissiveness, combining radical musical expression with flamboyant fashion choices.
Bowie’s experimentation in every area of his life, and his refusal to fit into any established norm, made him one of the most commercially and critically successful artists of all time. David Bowie was a man who went his own way and didn’t care what anyone else thought of it!
Robert Pattinson is perhaps the most notable modern equivalent of James Dean. After finding huge success (and a legion of female admirers) as a young heartthrob in the blockbuster Twilight movie series, Pattinson has turned his attention in recent years to more leftfield artistic projects. Robert Pattinson has appeared in less commercially accessible movies such as Good Time and The Lighthouse, playing roles where he is not afraid to make himself look weird or unusual. Doing things your own way and not worrying about the effect on your fame or status is part and parcel of the true Sigma lifestyle!
Harry Styles, like Robert Pattinson, started his career as a young idol with millions of female teenage fans. With his boyish good looks, squeaky-clean image, and angelic voice, Styles found his fortune as a member of the pop group One Direction. In the last few years, he has kept his fame and influence while choosing to branch out artistically, experimenting with more feminine fashion styles (no pun intended!) and more rock-based songwriting.
Sigma male traits
Sigma males are not always easy to spot. Unlike Alpha males, they are unlikely to show off, but neither are they likely to pretend not to exist as a Beta male may do. They are happy being themselves, doing their own thing.
If we tend to place different types of males on a personality types scale, loud, extrovert, and dominant Alpha males are on one end of the spectrum, with silent, submissive, and docile Beta males on the other end.
The Sigma man does not fit anywhere into that scale. So what are the Sigma male traits to look out for?
1. A true leader
The Sigma male has all the qualities to acquire Alpha’s dominance, but he prefers his freedom rather than being tied to the leadership position. He would rather work independently, but even if he ends up being a leader, he doesn’t continue for long because he doesn’t enjoy being bound to any social structure. His main strengths are that he doesn’t have to prove a point and he doesn’t create drama unnecessarily.
2. Freedom lover
A Sigma man cannot follow the norms that an Alpha male loves, and he is not trying to conform to them. This is not necessarily because he has anything against the leadership of the Alpha male; it’s because Sigma men value their freedom more than anything.
3. Mysterious type
The Sigma male is completely mysterious, and he doesn’t talk much. He has a strong personality that he demonstrates occasionally, and then he retreats into his world. This behavior piques the curiosity of the opposite sex, and women want these men badly.
4. Solo player
The Sigma male is not always a team player. Instead, he sets his standards and walks his path. He chooses his own game and picks his own rules to play. This is how he stands apart from the rest of the crowd.
However, this does not mean that he can’t work with others when he needs to! When Sigma men find like-minded people who share their vision, they can achieve extraordinary things in business or relationships.
5. Observer
He is a smart observer. His careful observation usually leads to thorough analysis, which makes him a better judge of situations and people. It doesn’t mean that he doesn’t make mistakes, but when he does, he is quicker to learn from them than other men may be.
6. Rebel
The Sigma male is a rule-breaker who goes against the grain. While the Alpha male tends to exercise power by establishing norms, the Sigma male exercises power by going against them. This is not because they have anything against the Alpha male, it’s because they have a complete disregard of the norms of hierarchy.
7. Dominant introvert
The Sigma male does not attract the attention of everyone by talking all the time. On the contrary, sometimes he likes to retreat and observe everything in silence. He does not get involved in meaningless conversations, but rather spends his energy on introspection and reflection which gives him a competitive edge. He is an introverted Alpha male who dominates using his intelligence.
8. Self-sufficient and independent
The Sigma male is self-sufficient and independent. While he may have plenty of friends (both men and women), he needs no one but himself for his own validation. He is not relying on other people’s energy to empower him. While the Alpha male needs a herd on which he can exercise his power, the Sigma male is comfortable on his own, and his confidence stems from within.
9. Curious mind
The Sigma male has a very curious mind. He is always on the lookout for new experiences and information. His curiosity always keeps him on his toes, and his mind is eager for new perspectives and knowledge. This may seem like a very attractive trait to his admirers.
10. Easily adaptable
One of the most desirable qualities of the Sigma personality type is that he can adjust anywhere and to anything. He can move in and out of groups with different interests, cultures, and beliefs. He wouldn’t tie himself for long to one social group. He is flexible and adaptable.
11. Respectful
Not only Sigma male is a lover of his own independence, but he also values the independence of other people. He doesn’t want to impose certain norms and restrictions on others. Instead, he respects the freedom of his friends and partners. Unlike the Alpha, if somebody doesn’t act the way he wants them to, he does not control or coerce them—he simply goes his own way himself.
12. Charismatic
His charisma shines through even if he is not putting any special effort into demonstrating it. Sigma males can get along well with people of many different personality types. While Sigma men may sometimes seem different from other men in the things that they say and do, this is due to different priorities rather than low social skills. Sigma man can be incredibly charming when he wants to be! His inner charm doubled with determination helping him to achieve business goals and be successful in everyday life.
13. He knows what he wants
Due to his self-confidence and inner strength, he gets a lot of attention from women. He can seduce any woman he wants, but he is not the kind of guy who would jump from one woman to another. Instead, he tries to find a woman who is equally self-sufficient and independent—these are the things that Sigma man finds most attractive!
14. Explorer
He is a nomad and explorer who likes to experience new things. Instead of staying in his comfort zone, the Sigma male likes to go and experience new cultures, and foods, and interact with new people. He tries his limits and explores new horizons, gaining energy from the unfamiliar.
15. Protector of his personal space
He knows his personal boundaries and sets them straight. His psychological and emotional space is sacred to him. If someone tries to cross his boundaries, he acts assertively and defends his space. However, Sigma men can often happily share their space with close friends, family, and partners that they feel a special bond with.
How to date a Sigma male?
So you are considering dating this cool lone wolf that takes your breath away by merely smiling at you? You are not alone, girl! Sigma male attraction is prevalent. Many women are interested in dating a Sigma male because he has a veil of mystery around him and mystery always seems intriguing.
The personality of the Sigma male is highly sought after by potential partners. But why are Sigma males attractive to women? The Sigma male is like a closed door, that challenges a woman to knock. In addition to that, his strength, intelligence, and independence are hard to ignore.
Because Sigma males are confident and do not require much validation from others, they often don’t reveal much about themselves on social media, so turning to their Facebook or Twitter accounts for answers may not be too fruitful! When Sigma males use social media, they are more likely to use it in less conventional ways, rather than following the crowd. Sigma males are not afraid of solitude if others are not on their wavelength, and won’t change themselves for anyone’s approval.
The first thing to remember is that he is a free-spirited guy. Never, ever try to tie him down to the ground. That will put him off instantly. A jealous and intimidating woman won’t get along with him either.
Secondly, respect his boundaries and give him his personal space and time. He is not going to be very verbal about anything, but if he values his relationship with you, you will know it.
Even though he may admire hot girls, this is not all that he wants. He prefers a Sigma female—a girl who is equally free-spirited, self-sufficient, and independent. Unlike the Alpha male, he won’t tolerate docility and dullness in a woman. He is unlikely to care about superficial things such as make-up or branded clothes, so don’t try to impress him with those. While it may be easy to confuse a Sigma male’s individuality with a lack of social skills, this is usually not the case.
Although often Blessed with the qualities to acquire dominance, he chooses to inspire rather than intimidate. He is brave, a careful observer, and a knowledge-seeker. If you can keep up with a Sigma male and respect his freedom and independence, you can expect a meaningful and lasting relationship.
