My friend has been dating a man who I seriously believed may have been put together Frankenstein-style from two types of men.
He’s part alpha male and part beta male, but also nothing like the two at all. One minute he’s romantic, the next he gets clingy, and then he’s oddly at peace with the world, only to lose all self-confidence when the pressure is on.
This got me thinking that maybe I was seeing signs of an actual gamma male in action.
That’s right, you’ve heard about the male personality types, and while we all know a guy can be an alpha male, a sigma male, or any of the other male types, the gamma male is chalked up to shyness and very poorly understood.
So let’s discover a little more about this conflicting male personality type – the gamma male.
What Is a Gamma Male?
We all know that male personalities are grouped into categories that include alpha males (the big boss of the male world), beta males (the second in charge), and a few more unique classifications for male habits and quirks.
However, nobody is a carbon copy of someone else, nor do we fit into boxes.
While there are different male personality types, men don’t always fall only into one personality type. You can be an alpha male with some omega male characteristics too. We are never just one type of personality in all different situations.
If you are more of a gamma male, you are a man who tends to be reserved, intelligent, and empathetic, but also afraid of commitment. You prefer to be led by others, but you’re not a push-over either. Unlike the beta male, you don’t live in awe of the alpha male, constantly his wingman or second in command.
Gamma males prefer to lead a life that’s free of excess risk, and they don’t like taking a chance on anything.
They calculate, recalculate, and check everything out again to decide whether they should do something. Because they don’t like risks, a gamma male will rather let the alpha take the lead (and responsibility).
However, a gamma male is no coward. Instead, his bravery extends inward, and he engages in a lot of introspection.
He backs down from a fight because it’s not worth it for him to fight over things that he doesn’t really value, yet he’s also clingy, and he won’t let go of things that he feels attached to.
Because the gamma man looks inward, he is self-aware, successful, and knows what he wants – and it’s not leadership or power. Instead, the gamma male dances to his own tune, setting his own measure of success.
Other Common Types of Male Personalities
The gamma male personality type is one of several male personalities, which some call the male socio-sexualities, and each personality type has unique features that rank it in the hierarchy.
These hierarchical roles aren’t concreted in place, and while the alpha male is usually at the top, beta males aren’t always second in command, and the gamma male may be third on the list or last, depending on the man.
The situation also influences what male personality role you step into. While you may be the alpha at work, you could be the gamma at home (where your wife may be more dominant than you).
The gamma personality type is harder to define than other personality types. It’s a chameleon of changing characteristics.
The better defined male personality types are:
Alpha Males
As the name suggests, the alpha male comes first. He’s the top dog, in charge, and always the first to become aggressive if a situation calls for it. However, an alpha male will also win the top spot with their confidence, charisma, and leadership qualities.
Pros
Cons
Beta Males
The beta male is the second in command, and he’s the softer side of the leader, supportive, and a bit shy. If you are looking for a loyal partner, a beta male is an ideal choice. A beta man will try to make his family happy, no matter the cost to him.
Pros
Cons
Delta Males
For a strong dose of reality, consider a delta male personality type. These guys are realistic, reserved, and happy with their place in life. Delta males are the “regular Joes” in life, and they’re not motivated by great ideals or assertive about their dreams.
Pros
Cons
Omega Males
An omega male is inwardly focused, and he isn’t bothered by the opinions of others. His goals may not make sense to others, but he dedicates himself with passion to achieving those goals. Since an omega man is often highly intelligent, he may be labeled a nerd.
Pros
Cons
Sigma Males
When you realize your man is a clever guy who thinks outside the box (heck, he designed the box to contain others), your man may be a sigma male personality type. The sigma man is solitary, creative, and cunning. With him, every step is planned.
Pros
Cons
Zeta Males
Zeta males are not as often identified as they are a mix of alpha and sigma personality traits. You will know a zeta man by his unusual and individualist mindset. Zeta makes his own rules, and he won’t conform to the will of others.
Pros
Cons
13 Characteristics of Gamma Male Personalities
The gamma male personality type is one of the lesser understood personalities, and if your guy is a total gamma, it can be challenging to know just what to expect with him.
One minute he’s nervous, and the next, he can be brave and put his foot down for what he believes in. However, there are a few characteristics that can indicate a man is more on the gamma end of the personality scale.
1. He’s Happy to Follow
Gamma men don’t like being put on the spot, and definitely not when they have to lead. He’d rather leave that up to the alphas and their second-in-command’s (beta men).
A gamma man is more likely to enjoy being in a comfortable middle spot on the team, or better yet, he may prefer his own company (unless that means he has to step up and lead).
In the workplace, your gamma man is one of those who are driven to reach middle management.
He doesn’t like being a bottom feeder, but he also doesn’t want to be in actual management. He wants to be valued, and because he looks inward, he knows his worth.
When the leader values him, it ensures the gamma man is loyal to the leader.
The gamma man makes a good follower on the team, and he prefers to do repetitive tasks with no risk to him – just following along with protocol.
2. He May Hate Women (and Their Behavior)
If a guy asks you out, but he still acts confrontational and hates it when you so much as look at other guys (aka the jealous type), he may be a gamma man. Gamma personalities are resentful of how women “throw themselves” at alpha men.
Gamma men may prefer to follow and not lead, but they hate being dominated, and they are bitter when women let themselves be dominated. Yet, the gamma man may not be mean toward the woman.
Instead, a gamma man may be awkward around women, and it annoys them that the alpha and beta man can so easily get girls to fall for them.
If a guy gets super awkward and clumsy around you when there’s an alpha man near, he is a gamma man who’s interested in you.
With such a guy, you’d have to bluntly assure him you are interested in him (not the alpha) as gamma men are linear men who don’t have the subtlety of innuendos.
3. He’s Highly Intelligent
Intelligent and withdrawn men are often gamma personalities. They excel at one area of interest because they obsess about it.
This obsession can become all-consuming, and it can interfere in their relationships, but the gamma man will wow you with his brilliance in this area.
You can expect a gamma man to be an expert at his job, especially if his job is technical and not at all risky.
Remember, gamma men don’t like to take risks, and they don’t do well with uncertainty. His creative side means he makes an excellent problem-solver, as long as he is outside the problem.
Gamma men can talk for hours about the topic that they focus their lives on, but they are socially inept at anything else.
4. His Hobbies Are Intense
Most of us have a hobby we may practice over a weekend, but it’s not something that dominates our free time. Yet, the gamma man is so obsessed with his interests that his hobbies are obsessions.
Every waking hour that he can spend on his hobbies will be spent there, to the denial of everything else.
When a gamma man slips into a downward spiral, he won’t apologize for working 12 hours a day in his basement on his model airplanes or missing your children’s school recital because he had to glue a new part into his miniature village construction.
To him, that hobby matters more than anything else because it interests him.
Yet, if you try to discuss the hobby or tease him about it, he will be deeply offended, taking it personally. A careless comment about his interests can lead to the end of your relationship, so speak with care.
5. He’s a Great Father
This one may come as a surprise. How could a man who’s so obsessed with a hobby or work be a good father?
While he obsesses about his interests, he is also deeply invested with a sense of responsibility. After all, those obsessions require dedication and drive.
He applies that dedication to his family and children. Your children will never lack for anything, and because the gamma man is a mid-level achiever at work, he has the means to comfortably provide your needs.
Another bonus is that the gamma man is quite shy and won’t likely pick up a lady on the side, so you don’t have to worry about him cheating on you and your children.
6. He’s Surprisingly Romantic
When a gamma man gets over his initial risk-avoidance and shyness, he will surprise you with how thoughtful and romantic he can be. When he plans a date with you, it will be absolutely perfect.
One downside of this is that if a gamma man mistakes your kindness and friendship, he will obsess about you and firmly believe you are now soulmates.
The gamma man may become the best friend who secretly has designs on you.
While a gamma man may not let just anyone into his sphere, he adores those he holds close to the heart. He will remember every event, birthday, and anniversary.
7. He’s a Teddy Bear
If you want a guy who’s carved and can run the Boston in record time, you’re probably not going to look at a gamma man. That’s right, a gamma man isn’t really interested in his physique.
He may do some basic self-care, but he’s not going to hang out at the gym – that’s where the alphas and betas hang out, and he deeply despises them.
While he likes solitude, he’s not likely to venture outdoors too often (remember, he’s risk-avoidant). If he has a home gym, he may surprise you with a set of serious abs under that fluffy cardigan or all-weather jacket.
8. Watch Out for His Delusions
A gamma man who’s been neglected and never reached a level of respect for his potential may become delusional. He’s already given to obsessions, so those can quickly become dark and scary.
He may delude himself into thinking he should be in charge (yet he’s always overlooked). This isn’t about him having ambition – it’s about him having a poor self-esteem.
He can hinge toward the martyr, who sacrifices everything for others (and resent them for it), or he could become the delusional anarchist who believes he is entitled to more than he actually has.
This delusional bubble can lead to narcissistic tendencies, and it can quickly turn very nasty. Prepare for these gamma men to believe others to be unintelligent and “blunt,” which is why others can’t see their “greatness.”
9. He’s Risk-Avoidant
Gamma men walk away from fights. They turn the other cheek not because of some moral view, but because they genuinely hate and fear any risk or confrontation. Inside, the gamma man is afraid of failing.
He may not be the leader, but he won’t tolerate being the actual loser.
Because he won’t risk, he’s unlikely to ask a girl out or make new friends. Instead, the gamma man sits back and waits for people to approach him.
10. He Hates Conflict
Gamma men are conflict-avoidant. When they have to attend disciplinary meetings at work (even if they’re not being reprimanded) it makes them very uncomfortable.
Sudden noises, crying, and arguing all make a gamma man back off.
Instead of discussing how they feel in a relationship, the gamma man may use passive-aggressive techniques to keep others at bay. When questioned about something, he takes it personally and lashes out.
Few gamma men ever learn to resolve conflict with good communication skills, which can make them vindictive in a confrontation (since they can’t maturely talk it out).
11. He’s got a Love for Safe Adventures
If you go on holiday with a gamma man, he’ll always have incredible adventures planned, but the emphasis is on planning here. He will map out every single detail of the adventure, ensuring there is absolutely no risk at all.
He’ll take you on food adventures (as long as he’s not allergic to some food), plan treasure hunts, and no rainy day will ever be boring with him.
His creativity and obsessive hobbies make for great fun.
12. He Can Be a Push-Over
Being assertive in life is an important skill. It’s how you stand up for yourself and for others. However, the gamma man will fold like a deck of cards when the situation becomes too conflict-laden.
He’ll keep quiet when stuff bothers him, which will later then manifest as resentment. He’d rather draw the short straw than offend someone else.
Gamma men are easily dominated, which can lead to their abuse at the hands of their boss or spouse.
Ironically, while a gamma man may be a push-over in one part of their life, they can turn around and be manipulative in another.
13. He Has Moments of Extreme Kindness
Gamma men may become popular if they hinge toward people-pleasing. They do stuff for others because it keeps the peace, and it makes others overlook their awkwardness with real social communication.
This can lead to the gamma man often being used. The gamma man may also start to build his sense of self on a foundation of external validation, which further fuels his people-pleasing. It also means that gamma men don’t take well to criticism.
When a gamma man is focused on his partner, he will be totally invested and capable of being really intuitive.
Your gamma partner will know exactly what to say when you need a kind word. Because a gamma man may be looked down on by others, he despises it when people get oppressed.
A mentally healthy and well-adjusted gamma man is a typical nice guy.
Final Thoughts on Gamma Male Personalities
My friend has since married the man I had believed to be an odd assembly of male personality types, and I have to admit, she’s never been happier. He is intelligent, and he takes great care of her.
The gamma man is a multi-facetted man, and while you may have to watch out for a few darker characteristics of his nature, you also benefit from his generosity, kindness, and teddy-bear body.
Have you decided which male personality type appeals most to you? Perhaps this guide on differences between sigma and alpha men will help.
And if you're looking for more articles about personality types, be sure to check out these blog posts:
- 11 Steps to Be More of a Sigma Male
- 25 Signs & Characteristics of a Sigma Male
- 17 Common Beta Male Traits and Characteristics
- 101 Neutral Personality Traits Most Common in People
- 23 Magnetic Personality Traits & Characteristics That Attracts People
Finally, if you want to identify YOUR personality type, then take one of these 11 personality tests to better understand what makes you tick.
