Alpha bullies rule wolf packs with an iron paw

The Alpha complex is as old as mankind itself and has generally captured the interest of many people who made an attempt to study this phenomenon. Everyone came with interesting concepts; some thought-provoking and others proving to be flat whacko. Nevertheless, we are fortunate to have modern science around that can provide us with valuable answers by venturing into the world of complex alpha mentality. The effects of this psyche can be studied best in kids who exhibit signs of alpha complex which can lead to alpha bullying behavior. If bullying the bully was a sport, the alpha kid would have been on top of the food chain.

What is alpha complex?

Alpha complex has many sides to it. Some alpha children will act all bossy, controlling, and dominating. They seek positions of power from where they can give orders. Other alpha children are more protective of people around them. This kind is known to take care of the weak and the wounded. A third kind of alpha children are the ones who will go far in establishing their dominance over their peers by exploiting their weaknesses and sensitivities.

Children show more attachment to the adults who are looking after them. Parents are also becoming aware of the changing dynamics of peer relationship between school going children. An increasing number of children have been seen orbiting around their peers instead of parents and teachers. This behavior could have been established by the way children interact with each other. When kids interact out of alpha instincts, then the relationship is established on the basis of competition rather than mutual respect. This understanding gives the alpha bullies a sense of being in control while the dependants, well… they just feel like dependants.

The making of an alpha bully

Alpha instincts lead to alpha bullying when one of the following three things happens. When the alpha instinct gets stuck with the kid and this behavior becomes a normal characteristic of the person. Another problem arises when the alpha complex in kids is activated outside the context of care taking. In such a situation, the caring instincts are surrendered to a more aggressive social attitude. Under different circumstances, the alpha bully behavior can be activated in kids when they decide to replace their role of defenders of the weak to exploiters of weaknesses in others. These children will play with the sensibilities of other with the intention to establish his/her dominance.

The rise of snobs

Virginia Williams, a Child and Family psychologist from the University of Wollongong, says, “It is something we are seeing more strongly in cultures where community isn’t as strong; the need to succeed in an individualistic world, we are noticing this over reliance on alpha instinct.”

Psychologists increasingly believe that the classrooms of 21st century are very different from the traditional classrooms of yore. The modern classroom has digital blackboards, laptops, projectors, and a good number of alpha personalities.

In addition, psychologists also say that the continuous flow of positive feedback that children receive from their parents has actually produced an entire generation of egoistic rascals. So, how to prevent bullying from happening when everyone around you is acting like bullies?

Though children with natural leadership abilities have always existed in classrooms of the Western world, still experts now believe that the fast changing face of society is clearing the way for the rise of alpha personalities from a tender age.

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