What Makes A 'Sigma Male'? The Internet Slang Term, Trend And Memes Explained

He doesn't need to follow the rules. In fact, he might not even know what the rules are. Hierarchies and social expectations mean nothing to him. He's sitting there, moisturized, in his lane, thriving. He is, as they say online, a "Sigma Male."

What Is A Sigma Male?

When describing a social group of animals, Alpha is the name some scientists use for the dominant individuals, while Beta is the next-most powerful. Deltas, Gammas, and Omegas round out the rest of the pack. This since-disproven model was used to explain the social organization of wolves but was later found to only really apply to wolves in captivity. Wolves in the wild don't really have Alpha/Beta hierarchies.

A sigma is an individual that sits outside the hierarchy and doesn't belong to it at all. Because humans are social animals, this is naturally the rarest kind of individual.

Where Did 'Sigma Male' Come From?

Vox Day, a Christian nationalist and far-right writer, coined the term "sigma male" in a 2010 blog post in which he explained that Sigma males are "the outsiders who don't play the social game and manage to win at it anyhow," and cited fictional characters like Han Solo and various cowboys played by Clint Eastwood as examples.

The Sigma male identity category allows people to reframe their exclusion from social groups as an act of rebellion, to claim equal status to Alphas even though nobody else even recognizes them.

How Do People Meme About Sigma Males?

Many of the memes about Sigma Males make fun of the concept and of the people who support it. The most viral tweet about Sigma Males sees it as a symptom of a problem with men.

Other memes discuss fictional characters who are examples of the Sigma male, especially John Wick and Patrick Bateman from American Psycho.

Generally, the Sigma Male as a concept sort of has an incel vibe to it, seeming to appeal to men who do not like women. In fact, in Vox Day's initial definition, Sigma Males "tend to be contemptuous of (women)."

The Sigma Male has also inspired a whole series of other memes relating to his face, his hustle grindset, his stare, and the signs that you may be one.

Why Do People Make Memes About Sigma Males?

The Sigma Male is a social type that the internet can't get enough of — a man who isn't very engaged with society, who finds himself isolated and constantly online. He fits into a general family of memes that also involves incels and Wojaks, existing as an emblem of alienation.

For the full history of the Sigma Male, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.