There is no such thing as an alpha wolf
Oct. 10th, 2013 09:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lliiraI just found this out! http://io9.com/why-everything-you-know-about-wolf-packs-is-wrong-502754629
Wolves live in families. So-called "alphas" are actually just parents, and they "dominate" their pups the way the parents of any species "dominate" their children. I am fascinated (and happy) to find this out, because I bought into the "alpha" stuff, and of course I shall be referring to it when I discuss LKH and her biology degree and her calender research again. Also, all the werewolf books I know about that purport to be based on that outdated alpha wolf research write males as far more "alpha" within werewolf society, purportedly because of wolfiness; but even said outdated research did not claim alpha male wolves outranked alpha female wolves. There is obviously Something Going On among the urban fantasy writers and readers who enjoy this myth, and it's not love of wolves.
Wolves live in families. So-called "alphas" are actually just parents, and they "dominate" their pups the way the parents of any species "dominate" their children. I am fascinated (and happy) to find this out, because I bought into the "alpha" stuff, and of course I shall be referring to it when I discuss LKH and her biology degree and her calender research again. Also, all the werewolf books I know about that purport to be based on that outdated alpha wolf research write males as far more "alpha" within werewolf society, purportedly because of wolfiness; but even said outdated research did not claim alpha male wolves outranked alpha female wolves. There is obviously Something Going On among the urban fantasy writers and readers who enjoy this myth, and it's not love of wolves.
no subject
Date: 2013-10-13 08:24 pm (UTC)It's really the same shit that's in Twilight, 50SOG, and probably shittons of non-paranormal romance novels. The popularity of the narcissistic desire to put everyone else down at least makes sense from a cynical perspective. It's the popularity of being abused that doesn't make sense to me.
no subject
Date: 2013-10-13 08:32 pm (UTC)