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If you say the word "alpha" in the context of social group dominance, and EVERYONE knows what you mean...

Then the word means something, despite your political correctness.



It's not political correctness, it's actual correctness. Nor did I say the word didn't mean anything, I said there's no such thing as an Alpha. If they use the word alpha when discussing social dominance, they're wrong, just as they'd be wrong if they used the word aether when talking about the higgs field. The alpha theory implies the dominant one is the strongest one, that's simply not how these social hierarchies work, it's usually the eldest one or the father/mother of a group; to use the term alpha is simply wrong in any context.


I don't know what alpha theory you are talking about, but as far as the accepted definition of alpha goes[1], it's "Denoting the dominant[2] animal or human in a particular group".

So as far as I can see, the word was being used in the correct context, implying the correct accepted definition. So it seems a bit strange that you first claim that not only is the wrong term being used, but that the term does not actually exist (or is accepted). I'm curious what you think, so would you like to expand on why you disagree?

[1] "Denoting the dominant animal or human in a particular group", http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/alpha#a...

[2] "Having power and influence over others", http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/dominan....


Quoting me definitions that arose to begin with from bunk science does not negate my point that they're incorrect and based on bunk science. Just because words have entered the popular lexicon doesn't make them correct when applied in the very area the bad science was done. The term alpha is non-sense, end of story.

> I don't know what alpha theory you are talking about,

Clearly, so why don't you look into the origins of the word and its current usage; what you'll find is bad science. Packs don't have alphas and betas, dogs and wolves don't have alphas and betas; the leader of a pack is usually the father of the pack, not the strongest or most dominant in a pack, and everything implied about dominance by the term alpha is simply wrong. It's not how packs work, it's not how baboons work, it's not how social groups work. There are no betas and no alphas. It's just bad science that got popular enough to enter the popular lexicon.




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