The idea that wolf packs are led by a merciless dictator, or alpha wolf, comes from old studies of captive wolves. In the wild, wolf packs are simply families

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-the-alpha-wolf-idea-a-myth/

[–] UltraMagnus0001@lemmy.world 9 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Baboons act more like that, you know primates like us.

[–] zero_spelled_with_an_ecks@programming.dev 23 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Bonobos, primates like us and more closely related than baboons, do not.

[–] Shou@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I mean. They are a matriarchy. So one could say the oldest is the alpha female. Who only accepts a new female in the group if she's able to sexually satisfy the matriarch. And in case you want to see what bonobo gay sex looks like... don't. It looks like two sopping tumors rubbing against each other.

[–] zero_spelled_with_an_ecks@programming.dev 5 points 4 months ago

Oh thank god the tumors aren't dry.

[–] ekZepp@lemmy.world 14 points 4 months ago

...There are a range of animal behaviors out there, and just because humans choose to identify with some more than others doesn’t mean we have to.

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/the-science-of-alpha-males-in-animal-species

[–] Roberto@mujico.org 4 points 5 months ago

Aren't we all captives of society and cultural norms