13.3 What About “Alpha” Males?

There has been a resurgence of this idea that humans, like chimpanzees, live in strict hierarchies. After all, many of our institutional models are based on the idea that there is “one top dog” to whom everyone answers. But is that our evolved way of being?

Yes…and no. There are certainly times when human groups needed, and still need, social organization and a leader. Letting a large, economic power run amok without anyone steering the ship would be, well, anarchy at worst – chaos at best. But does that “top dog” have to be aggressive, overbearing, or flat out mean?

Probably not. Here again, we turn to our favorite primatologist Frans de Waal. Listen to this 11-minute interview with NPR in which de Waal argues that the “alpha” of any group of apes – chimpanzees or humans – is often most successful when he cooperates and is generous to others.