The Beta Male

Posted on | February 1, 2008 |

Move over, Abercrombie & Fitch models. Take a seat, Brad Pitt. Turn on the TV Thursdays at 9p.m. and watch one of the real heartthrobs of today, John Krasinski from The Office. He may not have the Alpha Male trifecta—looks, attitude and confidence—but he has a charming self-awareness that naturally attracts people. And he’s not the only one. In 2007, we witnessed the emergence of the Beta Male in mainstream media. Who are these beta males in real life?

Ladies, remember that best guy friend you had growing up who you played video games with and beat at basketball but secretly had a crush on? Or those guys who you didn’t even notice until your mid-30s when you realized the majority of alpha males were one-dimensional jerks? These are the beta males. Take a look at some of the more recent pop-culture  Beta Males:

John Krasinski (The Office)

Seth Rogen (Knocked Up)

Michael Cera (Superbad, Arrested Development)

Zach Braff (Scrubs, Garden State)

America Ferrera (Ugly Betty)—the  Beta Female!

Betas have always charted their own waters, but now that they have been thrust into the media spotlight,  their behaviors and purchasing decisions are getting noticed. As more people are giving up on the airbrushed artificiality of glossy magazine models, they are turning to real-life influencers and they are responding to the authenticity of the Beta Male.

2007 marked a major milestone in the emergence of the Beta Male. In 2008, we expect to see the expansion of this trend as it burrows more deeply into the fabric of our society.

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