More traditional pack theory typically defines:
Alpha = Leader
Beta = Follower/Pack Member
Omega = Outsider/Untouchable/Floormat
- What seems to be getting called "Omega" in this thread is closer to the Lone Wolf. They *could* have been an Omega. Or they could have been an Alpha. Or they could have simply never fit into or understood normal pack dynamics. Or any other number of things that makes them shun packs.
However, I've had similar conversations around these pack dynamics (and women are not immune - they just play the alpha/beta game a little different. Less direct aggression, more subversive manipulations. Women are stereotypically the more social/feeling of the sexes, after all.)
What I've come to is that yes, everybody has a "comfort" role. The role they're most likely to fall into. But alpha tends to play into a pecking order, and all but one of the comfortable alphas will be forced into a beta role. This is why they need to be adaptable. Almost nobody can be alpha *all* of the time.
Betas are the ones who look for leadership. They want to be part of a bigger whole. But they don't want to - or can't - steer the ship, themselves.
Omegas are the ones who are so *desperate* to belong that they will do anything to please. To the point of obsequious self sacrifice (think of the wolf who eats last, in the pack. Or the guy who spends his life savings trying to impress somebody... only to be shunned, anyway.)
And lone wolfs are just that. I think most lone wolfs are in fact alphas who could not accept being a beta in their packs. I certainly was, when I was a solo act.
Alpha = Leader
Beta = Follower/Pack Member
Omega = Outsider/Untouchable/Floormat
- What seems to be getting called "Omega" in this thread is closer to the Lone Wolf. They *could* have been an Omega. Or they could have been an Alpha. Or they could have simply never fit into or understood normal pack dynamics. Or any other number of things that makes them shun packs.
However, I've had similar conversations around these pack dynamics (and women are not immune - they just play the alpha/beta game a little different. Less direct aggression, more subversive manipulations. Women are stereotypically the more social/feeling of the sexes, after all.)
What I've come to is that yes, everybody has a "comfort" role. The role they're most likely to fall into. But alpha tends to play into a pecking order, and all but one of the comfortable alphas will be forced into a beta role. This is why they need to be adaptable. Almost nobody can be alpha *all* of the time.
Betas are the ones who look for leadership. They want to be part of a bigger whole. But they don't want to - or can't - steer the ship, themselves.
Omegas are the ones who are so *desperate* to belong that they will do anything to please. To the point of obsequious self sacrifice (think of the wolf who eats last, in the pack. Or the guy who spends his life savings trying to impress somebody... only to be shunned, anyway.)
And lone wolfs are just that. I think most lone wolfs are in fact alphas who could not accept being a beta in their packs. I certainly was, when I was a solo act.