• HappycamperNZ@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    26
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    1 year ago

    Apparently the concept of alpha male in wolves came from those observed in captivity.

    Sure there’s a link there

    • maniclucky@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      1 year ago

      I’m not sure about the captivity thing, but I do know that what were originally asserted to be ‘alphas’ were the breeding pairs. They were parents leading their children.

      • seaweedsheep@literature.cafe
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        9
        ·
        1 year ago

        There was a very flawed study years ago where a biologist observed wolves in captivity and determined that they fight for dominance within the pack. Later, he realized that in a natural setting, a pack is a breeding pair and their pups, as you stated. A natural pack is much more cohesive and doesn’t have a strict hierarchy, but the ridiculous myth of “alpha wolves” won’t go away completely, despite the same biologist’s efforts.

        • schmorp@slrpnk.net
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          1 year ago

          Because we’ve caged ourselves and behave like the captured wolves of the study, including the Alpha male shit.