10 Best Traits of a Sigma: The Rarest Male Personality Type

There’s been lots of controversial talk about sigma male and female personality types. Is it all B.S.? Is there some truth to these conceptual beliefs?

Some live by these archetypes, while others throw them completely out the window without regard for their potential value. It’s kind of like zodiac signs, you either believe in them, or you don’t.

I believe there’s some truth to be found in these sociological models. After all, they relate to the idea of social hierarchy that is said to exist within our society and animal kingdom; this same concept was dubbed “Imaginary” by Forbes.

Really?

Social hierarchies have been observed through countless periods in many different species including mammals, insects, birds, and even crustaceans (yeah, you heard right, there are ALPHA CRABS).

But we’re not here to talk about alpha crustaceans. We’re here to talk about the classification of males considered an exception to the system, Sigmas.

Sigma males are considered masters of silence, freedom, and independence. They march to the beat of their own drum without regard for social acceptance or hierarchy. A sigma chooses not to lead or follow by default. Still, he’s fully capable of taking charge like his alpha counterpart.

Rebels, non-conformists, wanderers, and loners are just some of the common names sigma males receive from society. They’re also masters of isolation and have a seemingly unquenchable thirst for knowledge and self-improvement.

The sigma male is the most controversial of all male archetypes. Some even consider the entire system of social hierarchy ridiculous. This claim astounds me because the animal kingdom has many animals that seemingly fall into this categorical system.

Just ask this guy from a Quora thread, who made this comment on a post about Alpha and Sigma personality types:

“Watch Animal Planet for a day, you’ll find out.”

Turtles, Whales, Tigers, Jaguars, Bears, and Snow Leopards are perfect examples of natural isolation masters. Read more about sigma animals here.

The top 10 of the best traits that define a sigma male:

Socially Independent

Tyler Durden, Brad Pitt’s character from the movie Fight Club, is an excellent example of a sigma male who’s completely removed from the chains of social hierarchy.

Sigma men often look at social circles/hierarchies with distaste. These men don’t fit in, and that’s what makes them unique. They operate outside of the order, so they’re considered influential and respected in the eyes of others. Society is a matrix to sigmas, and they treat it as such.

Sigmas can occasionally be mistaken for quiet, passive characters. They could even be incorrectly labeled as beta males due to their seemingly laid-back nature. Make no mistake, though. They are two very different personalities.

Sigmas can often be a problematic character for alphas, who draw most of their confidence from the external interactions of their Beta, Delta, Gamma, and Omega counterparts.

Alphas and sigmas usually don’t make good friends. Sigmas aren’t influenced by leadership the same way as other personality types, which could lead an alpha to feel threatened by a sigma’s rebellious social disobedience. Alphas can’t exist outside of a social context. However, a sigma’s identity remains after stripping everything away, making him socially indestructible.

Let’s put it metaphorically. An alpha male is a cobra. Nobody messes with cobras for apparent reasons, except for that crazy animal called the mongoose. Sigmas are the mongoose of the social hierarchy. They’re a flat-out exception to the rules of natural order.

Isolation Master

The spiritual ascetic Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) spent countless hours in an isolated, meditative state.

Spending lots of time alone is a deliberate choice for sigma males and one they thrive on. They use this alone time to explore the inner workings of themselves and to learn new skills. Sigmas highly value silence and are often considered “introverted alphas” by society. They know how to take care of themselves and will happily do so.

Sigmas will not hesitate to cut someone out of their lives if necessary for their mental health and overall wellbeing. But, again, they don’t require external attention or social acceptance to be content — they draw their confidence from within themselves.

Sigmas can be alone for extreme periods but are also intelligent enough to realize that having friends is essential for mental health and growth. Some sigmas may have poor social skills due to extended periods of isolation, so keep them sharp!

Charismatic And Attractive

Hugh Jackman (who’s a charismatic powerhouse all by himself) plays Wolverine of the X-Men, a character who’s a great example of a rebellious, headstrong sigma male.

Sigma men are said to be undeniably charming, mysterious, and persuasive. Sigmas are the type of men that make women curious and intrigued. They can easily make allies and are usually well-liked by friends. They are also excellent listeners, but they tend to hate small talk due to its impersonal nature.

Even though they operate outside of the social hierarchy, sigmas are well aware of how it works and will enter in temporarily when they have a specific goal in mind. They can easily influence Gammas, Deltas, Omegas, and Betas; often, they find their close friends within those personality types.

When placed in a room full of people, a sigma sits back and watches the room quietly from afar, detached from the gathering’s flow. This behavior is opposite of alphas, who tend to control the room’s flow by acting as the center of attention. Instead, sigmas prefer to draw people in with their allure and charm.

Sigma men don’t get along well with controlling and disrespectful people, period. Another reason why alphas don’t mix well with sigmas. Trying to tell a sigma what to do is a death sentence; they will bite back!

They have the intellect to turn an entire group of people against a social enemy and are fully capable of defending themselves without help. A sigma’s behavior can be devastating for an alpha male’s social reputation since alphas feed off the social hierarchy. It’s just best not to cross them. Sigmas can smell B.S. a mile away.

Exudes Self-Confidence

Clint Eastwood’s role as “The Man With No Name” in the Dollars Trilogy might just be the ultimate representation of a sigma male.

Sigmas are famous for…well…not giving a s**t. They couldn’t care less, and it shows big time (That’s some off the charts power right there).

They treat rules like a buffet, take what they want, and leave the rest untouched. Most if not all of their value comes from within, so sigmas are perfectly comfortable going against the grain of society’s standards.

Since they often don’t look up to others, they form unique personalities that are entirely their own. As a result, sigmas tend to be some of the most authentic and unique men on the planet.

There’s a famous saying that goes like this:

“Alphas are seen, Sigmas are felt.”

Calculated And Cunning

Tommy Shelby, of the tv series Peaky Blinders, is an excellent example of a viscously cunning sigma male with exceptional alpha-like leadership skills.

Sigma males are cunning, calculated, perceptive, intellectual, and everything in between. They seldom make a move without taking time to understand the benefits and consequences of a specific action. They are master actors with excellent situational awareness and are always one step ahead of the game.

If someone’s acting up, you can bet that it’s going to be the sigma calling them out on their distasteful behavior. Not a good idea attempting to pull the wool over a sigma’s eyes; they’ll come after you like a shark on the scent of blood.

One downside of this trait is that some could use it to manipulate others purposely. Use this responsibly! Authenticity and honesty will always reign supreme.

Logical And Artistic

James Bond, in all his roles throughout history, is a cream of the crop sigma male. Alluring charisma, cunning intellect, powerful presence, true independence, introverted, and occasionally sensitive. Sigmas don’t get much better than this guy.

Sigmas are often the perfect balance between left and right-brained, which allows them to form unique, philosophical perspectives that others wouldn’t usually see. In addition, Sigma men are free thinkers and genuinely curious individuals, so get ready for some deep, interesting conversations.

Sigma males can appear cold and calculated at times. Still, they have a warm, emotional side that brings them back in touch with their humanity. They’re often more in touch with their emotions than most other personality types. Sigma males tend to have all the warm qualities of a beta, mixed with the power and confidence of an alpha.

They see hardship and rejection as ways toward personal growth. Sigmas understand themselves better than anyone else and realize that failure is valuable, exposing weaknesses that can be turned into strengths later on.

Quiet And Humble

Keanu Reeves is the perfect example of a real-life, well-balanced sigma male who often demonstrates the softer, more compassionate traits that sigmas tend to possess.

Humility is one of the top traits a sigma male can possess. It’s one of the three core values followed by most sigma males: silence, humility, and freedom.

Sigmas will rarely ever talk or brag about themselves, and getting to know who they truly are could take years. Men like this may even play down impressive achievements that they’ve accomplished. They have many layers that require a lot of time to peel back. So they won’t talk to you about themselves unless you flat out ask.

I’ve only met one other man who considers himself a sigma male in my entire life. It was a very enlightening experience, so if you ever get the chance to talk to a lone wolf, do it! It’s a fantastic experience and one that probably won’t present itself often.

Free Spirit

Keanu riding off to freedom.

People are emotionally draining to sigmas, no matter how awesome they may think you are. They need a lot of time to recharge their social meters. Don’t take it personally if they just leave your house, or your party, or your life. Even though sigmas often prefer to be alone, they have high respect for others.

They’re wanderers, and they come and go as they please. Freedom is an essential aspect of a sigma’s personality. That’s why many of them become entrepreneurs because, to be blunt, they hate following orders.

Sigmas still are very adaptable in the workforce and can morph to fit many different positions. They’ll even take a leadership role if the situation calls for it.

Unwavering Loyalty

Matt Damon’s character, Jason Bourne, is an excellent example of a sigma male who isn’t content inside society’s social hierarchy. He just wants to be left alone to do his own thing with his lady (who seems to be a sigma woman!).

Becoming close friends with a sigma male is rare, especially since they keep their social circles extremely small. Relationships aren’t any different.

Once you befriend or date a sigma, you’re in for life. But don’t expect an easy pass. Sigmas have high standards due to their self-reliant nature. Because of this, they’d rather be alone than with someone who isn’t up to their level. They hold their friends and partners with the highest regard and will always be there when you truly need them.

Even if you aren’t close friends with a sigma, they will always treat you with warmth and respect when you happen to run into them (as long as they aren’t the manipulative type!).

Conclusion

Sigma males are free-spirited men. Masters of silence, freedom, and independence. They march to the beat of their own drum without regard for social acceptance or hierarchy. Sigmas are proud to be rebels, non-conformists, wanderers, and loners.

They are masters of isolation and have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and self-improvement. They make great friends and partners if you can manage to find one and get their attention, so keep an eye out!

Did you discover something new about yourself? How many of these traits do you possess?