Gamma male

In the animal kingdom, the terms alpha, beta, and gamma male are commonly used to describe an individual’s position within a social hierarchy. In social hierarchies, alpha males are the highest-ranking males within a social group, followed by beta, and then gamma males.

Newsweek's article Scientists Discover Why Mysterious Arachnid Has Alpha, Beta and Gamma Males which focuses on a type of New Zealand spider notes:

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Alpha and beta males are large in stature and have big jaws, weighing up to half of their total body weight, that they use to compete with each other for access to the females. Alpha and beta males have differently shaped "weapons," with betas possessing longer and thinner jaws. Gamma males, on the other hand, are up to seven times smaller than the other males, and rather than fight, surreptitiously mate with undefended females.

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Gamma male behavior among other animals

See also: Beta male

Among chimpanzees, beta males attempt to gain alliances with gamma males in order to usurp the power of alpha males.

Rhesus macaque (Commonly called a Rhesus monkey)

In a rhesus monkey study, a gamma male raised its tail when the alpha and beta males are not in the vicinity, and then resumed its normal posture on the return of the alpha and beta males.

Gamma males in human hierarchies

See also: Essay: Toxic gamma males. Keep them out of your life and organizations

According to the article Social-Sexual Hierarchy Revisited:

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About six years ago, Vox Day published his socio-sexual hierarchy. Alpha – The top of the hierarchy. President Donald Trump is an Alpha. He’s confident, boisterous, and handsome... Delta – The normal guy. Most men are Deltas... Gamma – These men would be low-end Deltas if they did not think of themselves as being secretly Alpha. They are secret kings in their own mind and believe themselves to be worthy of admiration, which is often undeserved... They are also on the unattractive side in terms of looks but don’t seem to understand or accept this. Of all people in this hierarchy, the Gamma needs the most improvement but often times rejects criticism or even helpful advice, instead believing themselves to be gods among men. Very dangerous if given any kind of power. Omega – The low-end of the tier. Omegas are usually unattractive, introverted, and unsuccessful with women.

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