The term ‘alpha’ is analogous with wolves for good reason. The term originated from a research paper wherein an ethologist observed the behavior of captive wolves. It was then popularized in the seventies by Dr. Mech, a leading expert in wolf behavior.
Despite the seemingly strong roots in science, the term has been outdated for decades. The original studies were not representative of natural wolf behaviors, and Dr. Mech has since debunked the ‘alpha’ ideology again and again.
Origin of the Term ‘Alpha’
In 1970, David Mech published a famous book titled “The Wolf: Ecology and Behavior of an Endangered Species.” Referencing a study conducted in 1947 by Rudolph Schenkel, the book describes the social structures of wolves observed in captivity, and is what popularized the term ‘alpha’ as a descriptor.
The wolves in question belonged to the Basle Zoological Garden in 1934. Up to ten wolves at a time lived together in an area of about ten meters by twenty meters. Schenkel notes that “the captivity conditions prohibited the normal biological course of society behavior,” alluding that he was well aware that the behaviors observed would not match those found in nature.
In comparison, a single group of wolves in the wild may stake claim to a territory of over 1000 square miles. That is more than 1,600 square km or eight-thousand times larger than the area used in the original study. With this in mind, it is easy to understand why Schenkel felt the need to add his disclaimer.
‘Alpha’ Behavior
In his research, Schenkel describes conditions wherein the wolves would fluctuate between periods of extended violence with brief intervals of peace. These fluctuations coincided with the seasons, winter being the most violent as resources become scarce, and fall being relatively peaceful.
Within sexes, a single 𝞪 animal typically reigned supreme and oppressed other individuals of the same sex. In contrast, male wolves and female wolves did not impose oppression upon each other. A single 𝞪 pair would then present themselves as dominant, and consistently defend this status through displays of aggression.
Dr. Mech took this study and expanded on it in his book, and the term alpha became synonymous with aggressive leadership roles within canids. Then, as the years passed and more research was done on wolves, Dr. Mech no longer agrees with the alpha, beta, omega social dynamic, requesting that the publisher cease printing the book. A request that the publisher has ignored in favor of continuing sales.
Wolves as they are Understood Today
Modern research points to wolf packs consisting of family groups where the ‘alpha’ pair are the parents, and the omega wolves are the pups. By this standard, the nomenclature alpha is distinctly strange. It is more apt to call them the adults, and the pups look to the adults for direction.
Pups may stay with the adults until they are ready to leave. This can occur anywhere between one and three years, though there are outliers to this rule.
The breeding pair are incredibly close knit, while the pups tend to be more aloof. The breeding pair are rarely ever farther than one-hundred meters apart; pups may wander away from the group for weeks at a time before returning.
Dominance displays with wolves outside of the pack are rare. Dr. Mech spent thirteen summers observing the same wolf pack, and in this time, he never saw dominance fights.
The parents do nearly all of the hunting together as a team. The only exception to this is when the female is denning.
Preferring to eat all at once, wolves often share from the same kill. If the prey animal is small, then the parents eat first and then prioritize the youngest in the pack. This hierarchy ensures that the hunting pair remains fit, and the most vulnerable members remain taken care of.
‘Alpha’ Applications to the Domestic Dog
As the term ‘alpha’ was popularized with wolves, people bridged the gap to domestic dogs. Stemming from militaristic roots, dog trainers applied this idea of negative reinforcement as a means of policing animal behavior.
Owners were encouraged to display ‘alpha’ behaviors, looking to bully the dogs into submission through means of positive punishment. This includes shaking puppies by the scruff of their necks, hitting them, physically wrestling them, and of course, the widespread use of remote devices such as shock collars.
… dogs have the same internal reactions to emotions such as fear, joy, excitement etc. When a dog is suffering from anxiety or fear that provokes a negative behavior such as aggression, then it is dangerous and fundamentally wrong to assume that by punishing a dog, the dog is fixed.
Victoria Stilwel
This is, at a fundamental level, incorrect, as it misappropriates captive wolf behaviors with domestic dog behaviors. In fact, many trainers are now suggesting that utilizing acts of aggression in an attempt to tame a dog leads to a more fearful animal and inflated risk of sustaining bites.
World renowned dog trainer Victoria Stilwel promotes positive reinforcement, citing that “dogs have the same internal reactions [as humans] to emotions such as fear, joy, excitement etc.” She further infers that dogs who display aggressive behaviors are not acting with the goal of becoming the ‘alpha,’ but rather that the dog is suffering from anxiety or fear. As with humans, she states that punitive actions do not resolve the anxiety, and may in fact make it worse.
So, what about Schenkel’s Wolves?
While it is important to understand that dogs are very different from wolves, if we apply this same idea of anxiety to the wolves in Schenkel’s study, we may be able to infer that the zoo’s environment contributed to enhanced levels of stress in the animals. Once stressed, the animals’ bodies reacted with hormone responses such as cortisol which shut down functions of rational thought. It is likely that these wolves were suspended in a near constant state of fight, flight, or freeze, and the dominance displays were merely a function of anxiety induced brawls.
Conclusion
Despite world wide criticism of the ‘alpha’ ideology, the term still remains prevalent in today’s culture. Whether when used by tourists at Yellowstone or by well-meaning pet owners, the term is outdated, dangerous, and incorrect. Even Dr. Mech, the person who popularized the term in the seventies, is doing everything he can to halt the spread of this term.
Liked this article? Thought the content was interesting? Check out the citations for more in depth information. They are all fantastic reads. I cannot recommend them enough.
Citations
Why ‘alpha wolf’ is misleading: International Wolf Center. International Wolf Center | Teaching the World about Wolves. (2020, October 26). Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://wolf.org/headlines/44265/
Kjørstad, E. (2021, November 22). Wolf packs don’t actually have alpha males and alpha females, the idea is based on a misunderstanding. Sciencenorway. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://sciencenorway.no/ulv/wolf-packs-dont-actually-have-alpha-males-and-alpha-females-the-idea-is-based-on-a-misunderstanding/1850514
Schenkel, R. (1946). (publication). Expression Studies on Wolves (pp. 1–58).
Gray Wolf. National Wildlife Federation. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Gray-Wolf
Stilwell, V. (2015, February 17). Dog training myths and facts: Victoria Stilwell positively. Myth vs Fact. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://positively.com/dog-training/myths-truths/myth-vs-fact/