In nature dominance status is constantly shifting, and the same is true for men.
There is an always-developing complex interaction between environment, thoughts, feelings, capabilities and physiology that shapes the status of a man in his environment. Of course, who a man is can be separated from how he is currently recognized at that instant in that milieu.
But I would have thought it rather obvious that by learning to behave differently, and to develop different parts of himself, a man can raise his underlying qualities such that in the circles that matter to him, his status is raised. I have always understood this to be pretty much a universally shared belief in the early days here, judging by posts from MHarris, Jasmin, etc.
Women don’t tend to like this kind of idea when expressed in a simplistic form. There is fear of being tricked by an underlying low quality male who has adopted the demeanour, and only the demeanour of higher quality men. But whether the idea is true stands independently of whether it is an agreeable idea to the female mind.
So I am afraid that I must respectfully disagree. Becoming a better man (and part of this journey may include a theoretical and practical study of social dynamics) can certainly make you a better man. (Alpha male, in the terminology of this thread, although I wouldn’t put it this way myself).
Social groups need followers as well as leaders. There are few things more contemptible than seeing a bunch of young guys, when engaged in a group project, all jumping over each other in the struggle for interpersonal dominance whilst neglecting to consider that there is a greater goal at hand, and that failure for the group from failing to put the best man in charge will ultimately lead to much worse than the status knock from adopting a follower role in this particular context.
Is it beta to study social dynamics? I rather think not. Core change certainly can come from making tiny changes to behaviours, and from the experience of small successes moving on to making larger changes. Behaviour and how one conceives of oneself are rather closely linked! Via physiology, as well as via the more obvious cognitive route.
