Anyone know the origins of the Alpha/Dominance Theory? - Page 1

 I've been thinking about the Alpha/Dominance Theory for some time.  I know the various interpretations but who first described it as a social hierarchy of dominance/submissive behaviors?  Who set forth the idea that canine social structure consisted of "larger than family" packs with only one alpha and one breeding pair and no others matings? I believe this is a popular notion with no research to back it up.  I also believe it's a projection of our cultural values onto dogs and not a true observation. So I'm looking for the foundation for this theory beyond pop culture because to date I can't find it so it's looking like it more of a religion to me.
  tia, Susan

Wolves.

 no that's the popular misconception.  i'm looking for the actual research or the first time it was put forth because all the research of  i'm aware of actually shows a completely different reality - with wolves & dogs (wild & ferral) - from the one this theory puts forth.  but thanks anyway.

I don't know where it came from but here's an interesting article on wolves and dominance:

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/mammals/alstat/index.htm

If you do a google search on "alpha dominance" you will get a lot of results but your mileage may vary, IOW, some are useful, some are worthless. You are asking about studies in the biological field of ethology, so you'd have to start tracing backward in sources, unless someone here just happens to know who was the first to posit the hypothesis.

thanks, the best i've been able to do is the monks of new skete in the mid '70 (i'm happy they've since dropped this position).  at this point my understanding is the study the alpha dominance theory came from had been done in the 50's so i suspect it was a bit earlier than the mid 70's.  the reason i asked this question is because i've been wondering just how long it took for this "myth" to become a popular "truth" and i wonder how long it will take for it to give way.

I think the first research was done in the 1920s with captive populations of wolves. Unfortunately, captivity changes behavior and they didn't allow for that. AFAIK, no studies at all have been done with populations of canis familiaris, the domestic dog. Wolf and coyote behavior was extrapolated and projected onto dogs with the idea that canines are canines. But that may not be correct. And would a pack of Shih Tzus act the same way a pack of GSDs would? I don't know. 

IIRC, Brother Job from New Skete has recanted his "alpha rollover" recommendation. But it still appears in the New Skete books.

You'd have to do the work of looking through scholarly papers to find out when and where the idea of alpha dominance/beta submission first appeared.

Here's a recent interesting study...

The myth of the alpha male: A new look at dominance-related beliefs
and behaviors among adolescent males and females

Darwin wrote of it, and referred to the works of others before him.  Implications found in biblical works are strong, and several theological essays could be read at this source http://www.almightyalpha.com/contents.html

Introduction

Academic Curiosity or an Axe to Grind?
The Ignorance of Human Instincts
From Threat To Dominance
A Hierarchy Enshrined
Dominance (and Submission) Out of the Closet
To Defer is Divine?
Status: The Power of the Civilized
The Benevolent Alpha
God's "R" Us
Testosterone and the Temperament of Gods


PART I: PRELIMINARIES

1.  Homo Narcissus - Our Inflated Species-Esteem

The Way of All Flesh
Boosting Self-Esteem Via the Supernatural
Human Violance: Animal Nature or a Fall From Grace?

2.  God: Uber-Pater or El Presidente?

by justcurious on 01 September 2008 - 04:09