Turns out the existence of an "alpha" wolf is a myth.

It was based on old/bad experiments, conducted when unrelated wolves were thrown together in captivity.

In actual wild wolves, packs are just families. There's no dominant alpha battling for the top spot -- and in the rare cases there is, it's an alpha *female* wolf.

Insert obvious implications for the use of this term in human societies.

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

Is the Alpha Wolf Idea a Myth?

The idea that wolf packs are led by a merciless dictator, or alpha wolf, comes from old studies of captive wolves. In the wild, wolf packs are simply families

Scientific American

@mimsical

LOLLLLL...combine this piece with the one below quoting the man who coined the term, "alpha wolf" and how it no longer applies, and all the right wing 🤡s who have been posturing as "alphas" are going to have hide in their sad little holes👇🏾

Hopefully this horrible misconception ceases to be used in society 🤞🏾

https://www.theroot.com/maybe-you-should-stop-calling-yourself-an-alpha-male-1803141333

Maybe You Should Stop Calling Yourself an Alpha Male

In my experience, confessions are pretty fuckin’ useless. Never has being on the receiving end of a confession resulted in me feeling happy or relieved or satisfied. They’ve all been pretty inconvenient and/or bewildering, leaving me resentful of the party who voluntarily purged long-held secrets and then sighed a…

The Root
@alaric truly amazing. ty for sharing this!