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Pete Hegseth: A Weak Man’s Fantasy of the Alpha Male

Hegseth’s persona is a cartoonish reflection of what insecure men aspire to—a relic that says as much about his inevitable decline as it does about his fleeting relevance.

Libby Winkler
4 min readDec 10, 2024
Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash

Pete Hegseth: A Weak Man’s Fantasy of the Alpha Male

The idea of the so-called “alpha male” has long fascinated those who cling tightly to outdated concepts of masculinity.

Few public figures exemplify this flawed archetype more vividly than Fox News commentator Pete Hegseth. His exaggerated bravado, superficial patriotism, and tendency to promote rigid and often harmful views of masculinity make him a perfect model for those who mistake loud aggression for genuine strength.

Hegseth’s persona is a cartoonish reflection of what insecure men aspire to—a relic that says as much about his inevitable decline as it does about his fleeting relevance.

The Fragile Myth of the Alpha Male

The “alpha male” trope traces back to pop psychology interpretations of wolf behavior from the mid-20th century.

Interestingly, the scientists who popularized this idea—such as Dr. David…

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Libby Winkler
Libby Winkler

Written by Libby Winkler

Freelance writer who loves exploring the messiness of humanity, while poking around in nooks of life and shining light on all the things that make us complex..

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