The Alpha Factor; we now think like humans but often make our social choices more like apes. That is why the alpha factor plays such a key role in social decisions like electing leaders.
By Stephen Dinan
Humans have evolved
sophisticated neural software that allows us to interpret and
manipulate the world in new ways, creating everything from
symphonies to iPods. Socially, though, we are mainly governed by the
software that ruled our ancestors. In short, we now think like
humans but often make our social choices more like apes. That
is why the alpha factor plays such a key role in social decisions
like electing leaders.
Pack animals such as dogs recognize the alpha factor instinctively.
Even dogs that are physically larger will defer to an
acknowledged alpha once a dominance hierarchy is established. These
hierarchies allow for smooth social functioning and easily
coordinated effort, which has evolutionary advantages for the social
group.
Among our closest relatives, the alpha gorilla provides the center
pillar around which the rest of the troop moves and feels secure.
His dominance gives coherence to the troop. Humans, as
social animals, retain much of the same patterning.
While the current Presidential contest may seem to be about policies
and ideologies and a host of other rational subjects, the emotional
subtext is often more important. In a President, our more primitive
brain centers are still looking for alpha dominance. That is
why face-to-face debates are so vital. They allow our lower brain
centers a chance to see which candidate is alpha dominant over the
other - who will be better at providing that ordering function at
the top of the troop?
In modern politics, alpha dominance is not established by ramming
antler racks or chest thumping or slashing at each other with ivory
tusks. It is established by a combination of intelligence and
talent and perhaps most importantly, presence. Factors such as
height also play an important role in assessing dominance, which is
why height is one of the single best predictors of victory in
elections.
However, there is something subtler at work as well, something
conveyed in tone of voice, posture, emotional reactivity, and
defensiveness. Once someone is defensive, the other person has
seized the alpha position. We interpret this as being
commanding or presidential, but stripped of a euphemistic glaze, we
are really talking about dominance. Who is in charge?
When any two alphas meet, there is typically a subtext of testing
each other's power - ideological challenges, name dropping,
showing off money or social status. A quick wit and quick mind
are assets in establishing alpha dominance . There is a jockeying
for position. Most alphas will avoid naked confrontation with
another alpha, unless the terms of engagement are weighted to their
advantage. The powerful CEO might invite another alpha type to
meet him, but do so in an imposing office, with lush furnishings and
an ornate desk. This ensures his dominance.
Because Bush is the President of the United States, he has a range
of forces to draw from to maintain dominance. He has advisors
and spin-doctors, handlers and script-writers, bodyguards and
spokesmen, all of whom create an insulated cocoon in which his
dominance is unchallenged. He has vast amounts of money at his
disposal to carefully craft public messages.
In last night's debate, however, the rules were set up in a way
that allowed Bush no structural advantage: same size podium,
identical amounts of time to respond, no cheering from the audience,
no preparation for the questions in advance. America was given
a chance to see if Bush could retain his alpha dominance in a
head-to-head situation rather than in situations that have been
carefully crafted and insulated.
And the result was that Kerry established clear alpha dominance.
Kerry won the alpha factor hands down. He stood resolute
and powerful, with an impressive command of facts, speaking without
pause or flaw. Bush squirmed, meandered, looked nervous,
whined, repeated himself, and generally looked annoyed. He had
all the hallmarks of a man who has taken his alpha status for
granted and is discombobulated by a situation where he is
outclassed.
While that may not have immediately won Kerry votes, it will
definitely shift the psychology of the race. For the first
time, the American people who are not blinding themselves with
partisanship could see that Kerry has more alpha factor than Bush.
Period. Bush may be more aggressive. He may remain more
accessible and likable for some people. But he was alpha-dogged,
plain and simple. And in the primitive brain centers of social
animals such as humans, that lodges deep.
Since Bush is running on his ability to be a resolute and strong
commander-in-chief, the exposure of his second-tier status is a
devastating blow. Watch for Karl Rove to pull him from
subsequent debates with a convenient excuse. They simply
cannot afford for the image of Kerry as the stronger alpha to be
seared into the American psyche. They will attempt to gain control
of situations again and create an artificial bubble of power, such
as during the carefully crafted Republic National Convention.
However, everyone who watched the debate has now smelled weakness.
Reporters who have been afraid to REALLY do their job smelled
it. Swing voters smelled it. And political consultants smelled it as
well. Now that Bush has been revealed as the beta in a
head-to-head match, reporters will likely swoop in and start hitting
Bush much, much harder. Pent-up resentment of the alpha can rush in
now that it is safe.
Bush's debate performance last night had the feeling of the Dean
Scream in Iowa - it was a moment in which Bush could no longer
assume the mantle of looking presidential. I was beginning to
think Bush's victory was assured but after so clearly losing the
alpha factor last night, I expect a barrage of attacks that weakens
him further. He is now on the defensive. One way to win
the power back is to become the alpha in the next debate, which is
increasingly unlikely. More likely, Rove will attempt dirty
tricks to undermine the new alpha's status. However it pans
out, if Kerry retains alpha status through November 2nd, we can
expect to see a new president.
Stephen Dinan stephen@radicalspirit.org
is author of Radical Spirit (New World Library, 2002), and founder
of TCN, Inc. Stephen directed and helped to create the Esalen
Institute's Center for Theory & Research, a think tank for
leading scholars, researchers, and teachers to explore human
potential frontiers. Currently, he is a marketing consultant for a
number of startups, political action groups, and non-profits and
runs workshops through the Radical Spirit Community. For a
full archive of his articles, visit www.stephendinan.com
