Cultural myths debunked by science are so harmful! The "#alphadog" MYTH from *flawed* wolf studies (see article) has been co-opted by the #manosphere and #fabertising, where it's used to promote machismo as a male instinct, despite contrary evidence. Dominance hierarchies *are not* the default in wolves or even most apes!—(which we are)—making such pursuits misguided. #alphamyth #science #culture #ScienceDebunksCulture

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-the-alpha-wolf-idea-a-myth/

This drives me crazy! Cultural myths! The "#alphadog" MYTH from *flawed* wolf studies (in the 70s and retracted since 1999) has been co-opted by the #manosphere, where it's used to promote aggressive machismo as a natural male instinct, despite scientific debunking. Dominance hierarchies *are not* the default in wolves or even most apes!—making such pursuits misguided pseudoscience. #alphamyth #science #culture #ScienceDebunksCulture

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-the-alpha-wolf-idea-a-myth/

This drives me crazy! Cultural myths! The "#alphadog" MYTH from *flawed* wolf studies (in the 70s and retracted since 1999) has been co-opted by the #manosphere, where it's used to promote aggressive machismo as a natural male instinct, despite scientific debunking. Dominance hierarchies *are not* the default in wolves or even most apes!—making such pursuits misguided pseudoscience. #alphamyth #science #culture #ScienceDebunksCulture

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-the-alpha-wolf-idea-a-myth/

A Cyberpunk 2077 worldbuilding video, that talks about the lost animal population of Night City talking about the alpha myth & even providing more inside into that topic wasn't on my bingo card today.

Since the Alpha male draws heavily from this error I would recommend this short trip everyone who is writing wolves or similar creatures like Werewolfs. I also recommend the video she mentions in her Cyberpunk lore video.

She also talks briefly about Mech who wrote the book that we all fell prone to thanks through propaganda.
Mech is now 89 & still fights against the misconception he helped to promote. Even pulling the book out of trade to stop it's further spreading. If a scientist goes to such length to correct a mistake it's a respectable trait.

Respect to Liddy for pointing this out in a game worldbuilding video.
https://youtu.be/6eeMMNui1-U

#Science #Writing #WorldBuilding #Wolves #Werewolfs #Mistakakes #Alpha #AlphaMyth #AlphaMales #TheAlphaLie #MissConception #YouTube #Cyberpunk

The “alpha male” never existed — not in wolves, not in men.

But the myth lives on.

And it’s poisoning how boys are raised, how men relate, and how power is performed.

Time to dismantle the lie.

https://brewminate.com/the-alpha-myth-unpacking-the-toxicity-of-dominance-culture-and-male-supremacy/

#Brewminate #AlphaMyth #Masculinity #Patriarchy #ToxicCulture #GenderStudies