sigma

Let’s start with the alpha male — charming, with access to power and its associated status, physically impressive, dominating and quite possibly intimidating.  The alpha male has been contrasted with the beta male — quiet, lacking physical presence, submissive.  Alpha males have I think lost the attraction that they once had because the intimidatory characteristic seems to have outdone the charming aspect.

But now we have the sigma type which can be male or female.  The sigma personality can also be charming but doesn’t need to make a  huge impression on others, being quite content to go it alone.  The sigma is the lone wolf rather than the leader of the pack. Clever, thoughtful, sociable on occasion, and therefore popular  and successful, but also able to be solitary and not dependent on the approval of others. Tending to be left-field in their views and unconventional in their behaviour.

To be sigma is now cool so the word is used in a variety of ways.  You’re so sigma.  That’s so sigma.  A sigma car. A sigma guy.

This twist was given to the 18th letter of the Greek alphabet by the American alt-right activist Vox Day in 2010.  He meant it to apply to a male who doesn’t try to compete in the who’s-leader-of-the-pack competition but wins it anyway just by being so cool.   In the last few years sigma has gone viral so that even the local primary school kids are using it.