Hes always cool with your restaurant, movie, and vacation choices.
Then youre probably dating a beta male.
What Is a Beta Male?
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Theyre kind, supportive, more passive, emotionally expressive and attuned, nurturing, cooperative, and caring.
All characteristics that describe a beta male, according to the pseudoscientific construct of a dominance hierarchy amongst humans.
They wont engage intoxic masculinityand give a shot to impress you with toughness or dominance.
You wont have to worry about any fragile egos.
They’re kind, comfortable, and confident with themselves and where theyre at.
All attributes that make a good partner.
However, not everyone desires a beta male in their relationship.
For all their benefits, beta males have a few cons like unwillingness to take charge andpoor communication.
Why It Works For Some Couples
Clinical psychologistDr.
Sabrina Romanoffsays a beta male partner is ideal for people who have strong opinions and enjoy being in control.
Beta males are more comfortable in a submissive role.
They want to be taken care of and would rather take directions instead of giving them.
The main challenge with dating a beta male is that may be conflict-avoidant and not straightforward with their needs.
Beta males rarely put themselves first and often believe they must sacrifice their needs to preserve attachment to others.
Instead of communicating clearly, they may attempt to get their needs met in indirect orpassive-aggressive ways.
Beta Male vs. Alpha Male: Whats the Difference?
InParks and Recreation,Ron Swanson is alpha and Ben Wyatt is beta.
The difference is that beta males are subordinate whilealpha malesare dominant.
Though, both aregender stereotypesbased on generalized behaviors.
Societal expectations usually relate to the optics of the couple and how they present externally to the world.
They dont reflect the private interactions that occur within the relationship.
People are not always alpha or beta all the time.
Behaviors depend on the situation.
Societal expectations of a beta male are someone weak, passive, and submissive.
Ultimately, healthy people exhibit all of these traits at some point in their lives .
No one can be strong, in control, and dominant all the time without suppressing their own needs.
Ultimately, these societal pressures benefit no onenot the beta and alpha males or their partners.
Its okay to be bothan alpha male and a beta malewhen the situation or relationship calls for it.
But with any relationship, theres going to be issues.
Maybe, your beta male partner isnt meeting your needs and wants or communication has come to a head.
Everyone projecting criticism is speaking through the bias of their life experiences and prejudice.
Usually, we seek from others what we cannot give to ourselves, she says.
Consider why it might be important to attach your worth to the image of a strong and powerful man.
Give them your full attention and reflect their thoughts and feelings.
Balancing Power
A balanced relationship needs to have trust, respect, and equality.
Involve your partner in decisions and show that you value their opinions.
Bring up their strengths and talk about their past successes to build confidence.
Beta males are sensitive to non-verbal communication.
Be mindful of your positive body language and tone of voice.
Use a reassuring touch to show affection and support.
This can help strengthen the emotional bond between you two.
Keep in Mind
Sometimes, a relationship ends because of incompatibility.
If nothing seems to help improve the relationship, Cruz recommends analyzing whether the relationship is worth saving.
If both parties are willing to work to improve the relationship, consider couples therapy.
Licensed professionals are much more adept at navigating relationship conflict and getting partners back on track.
[Determine whether] the beta males traits are manageable or not, Cruz says.
Some males are aware of their traits and [open] to work on them.
Meanwhile, others are unwilling to change because it is not a problem for them.
Every relationship is different and needs to be analyzed by all parties to determine a solution.
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