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
