There are different ways of being a socially dominant, respect-worthy man, without being a jerk.

Having helped thousands of good men become empowered men who earn status, respect, and attraction, we are experts on the topic.

And with this article, we give the main types of dominant males.

Let’s dive in:

1. Meatheads (Physical Dominance)

Dominance with the (unstated) threat of violence.

Violent men belong to category.

But it’s not just gangbangers and criminals.
Many dominant men in civil society also present a layer of physical intimidation.

Take Trump and his infamous handshakes for example.
And of course, sometimes that mask of civility can comes off and display the real bully behind the facade.
Like with former congressman Grimm:

🛡️Self-Defense

• 🧠 “Threats don’t punch”. So keep your cool

See Power University’s lesson on physical threats

1.2. Drill Sergeants

You get many drill sergeants in army barracks and sports teams.

But, sometimes, you’ll get shades of drill sergeant in business as well.
And, sadly, in some families too (see controlling and abusive men).

Somehow people find their yelling entertaining.
So TV shows bank on the allure of unbound, limitless dominance and authority:

🔎 Gordon Ramsey

🛡️ Self-Defense

It’s a game of respect within the theatrical disrespect:

• Never be intimidated, BUT
• Respect their authority
• Love the game
• Push yourself hard
  • Excel in the drills, ideally.
• Display (inner) strength

If you dislike the organization -or don’t appreciate being yelled at-, move.

2. Smart Alecs (Holier Than Thou)

If meatheads say “I’m physically stronger”, smart alecs say “I’m mentally stronger”.

They hide behind a facade of knowledge, but don’t be swayed. They are playing the dominance game just like every other power-thirsty individual.

Examples

• ⛏️ Seth Godin
• ⛏️ Ben Shapiro

• Alan Greenspan:

Notice the arrogant “I know better than you” expression

🛡️ Self-Defense

• Remain calm (or they’ll say you get emotional because you’re losing)
  • Don’t get physical in civil society (or they’ll frame you as too-stupid-brute who can’t talk. A gaslighting experience.)
• Undermine their “intellectual power” & get under their skin. Say they’re:
  • Posturers, without real intellectual achievements
  • Have little reputation in their field
  • If successful, he peddles watered-down stuff to the masses

⛏️ Growing past your smart alecking

3. Masters of The Universe

They’re the “alpha types” with:

• Social dominance
• Confidence / hubris
• Success

Examples

• Donald Trump
• Jamie Dimon, who said he would beat Trump because he is “as smart and as tough as he is”. But I’m pretty sure Dimon thinks he is both smarter and tougher.
• ⛏️ Wall Street type in The 25h Hour

More on the aggressive side:

Mylett: If someone spoke to my son like I speak to these people I’d rip their heads off

3.2. Flashy Masters

They:

• Talk loud
• Dress snazzy
• Challenge others
• Make a big show
  • Create drama
  • Staged beefs
  • Provoke

Examples

• Conor McGregor
• Muhammad Ali
• Andrew Tate

🛡️♟️Self-Defense & Strategy

• Ignore their big talk if it’s not your style
• Ignore them if you’re above them
• Focus on work
• Beat them with results (rather than talk)
  • Talk after you beat them
  • If you’re past your prime, retire and deny them the upset

4. Jesters

• High energy
• Loud
• Mischief

Their weapon is sarcasm, covert aggression, and social embarrassment

Example: Russel Brand

Interviewer: (serious question)
Russel: (ignores, makes a show, disempowers the interviewer)

♟️🛡️ Self-defense & Strategy

1. Don’t pretend you’re having fun if you aren’t
2. Don’t play the same game if you’re not experienced
3. Don’t escalate (unless it’s well called for)
4. Don’t kiss up to them or try to get their attention

Instead:

1. Enjoy their show if it’s good
   • Take yourself less seriously if you’re the target
2. Ignore them
3. Act normal
4. Escalate and draw your boundaries IF they overstep

⛏️ Jesters and dominance styles

5. Charmers: The Power of “Smooth”

Social seducers

Examples

• George Clooney (more jester-like)
• Bill Clinton (higher power)

5.2 (Social) Seducers: Charmers on Steroids

They are charmers on sexual and/or romantic steroids.

A bit less “friendly smooth” and a bit more flirting and sexual innuendos.

Example from Catch Me If You Can:

Of course Hollywood overdoes the reactions.
But the concept is valid.

6. Authorities: The Power of Excellence

The power of authorities come from their rank, expertise, and the value they add.

As per social exchange principle, the more value you can give, the more power you wield.

Examples

• Any confident skilled man
• Any confident expert

Wolf: (curtly tasks them)
Vincent: Please would be nice
Wolf: Come again? Set it straight Buster, I’m not here to say please, I’m here to tell you what to do (…) you better fuckin’ do it and do it quick.
I’m here to help. <— Switches to a giver frame, good move
If my help’s not appreciated, lotsa luck gentlemen. <— Lays out his leverage with the value he has to offer

The Wolf can be curt and dominant to two killers because they need his expertise (and because he acts and moves like a respect-worthy man).

7. Charismatics: The Power of Confidence

Charismatic leaders have:

• A mission (in business and work)
  • Trust they can achieve it
• Confidence
• Intensity

Tesla: piercing eyes of conviction

8. Cold-Blooded

They could smile now, kill someone in half an hour, and don’t feel a thing.

They can unsettle others with their presence, social pressure, or with “off” vibes.

Example: Putin VS Obama

Obama is taller and leads the most powerful country.

But he still ended up power down in 1:1 interactions:

Putin: (serious and straight faced, never laughs, sometimes angry and always intense, lets silences heap pressure on people)

Note:
It’s a valid style even for “good men”, for example when pursuing important goals.

🛡️ Self-defense

• Lower your warmth
• Don’t fill the silences
• Be more deadpan/less expressive 🗿

⛏️ How to deal with cold-blooded men

9. Dominant Extroverts: Life of The Party

Dominate with impudence, energy, and “friendly dominance”

Similar to the jester, but less sarcastic, more physical, and higher in power.

It can turn more value-taking with one-upping and social climbing, so:

🛠️ 🐍 Only push down lower-status people.
🦅 Better yet: bring the fun, without pushing anyone down 👇🏼.

Example

From “Il Sorpasso”:

Notice:

Him: (takes both arm in arm) <— Friendly and dominant
You look Spanish <— Statements keep more control
Her: Yes…
Him: Ah, I got it right, the granny must have been joking around with a bullfighter <— LOL 😁. Shatters personal boundaries with a racy joke

And:

Her: You’ve never written us
Nephew: Yes…
Him: Yeah eh, he’s a rascal this nephew <— Jokingly piles up, but also diffuses tension

And:

Her: You’d always run through the house as first thing, do you remember?
Him: (jumping in) <— Reclaims center-of-attention
sure, he even told me about it <— Prevents the “family-only” talk and becomes “family insider”
go on, make your run through the house. <— Host power move, frames him as a little kid
Friendly kid, he’s a good guy <— “Good judge” power move

And:

Him: Uncle Miche’, such a “piece of woman” (gesticulates) <— Player self-frame
I’ll tell you later <— Pulls Michele up, worthy of his “men’s only talk”

🛠️ Aggressive Push-Pull

1. Boundary-breaking power move (push)
2. Cover, or rapport-rebuilding kindness (pull)

Note:

👉🏼 He does not pull back “Occhiofino” because he’s the lowest-status man
👉🏼 Different tonality for pushing (helps him get away with it)

9.2. The David: Hat Trick of Dominance, Warmth, & Energy

This is the best way to pull-off high-energy, while staying dominant and high-warmth.

Only pulling others up, with a real-life example that beats any movie:

Davide: (dominant, loud, vulnerable, and extra warm. Hugs men, holds their hands, pulls people up, and steals the show)

⛏️ Full analysis here (scroll down for David’s style details)

10. Made Man

The calm and confidence of the top dog, with little to prove.

What’s Best & What Should You Pick?

Different styles suit different personalities, situations, and different stages of life.

Also, keep in mind that power is the common glue among all the different dominant types.
You can’t be ANY of these if you’re a passive, low-confidence, submissive man.

And you’ll do great in any case if you’re just high-power and respect-worthy, without any specific style.

But if you prefer a style, or an inspiration, I recommend you decide depending on your personality.

On average, the more masculine type who speaks and moves less is more powerful, influential, and authoritative.

I recommend borrowing some moves and skills from social charmers and charismatic.
But with a masculine edge and incorporating the timeless principles of power.
That gives you status, respect, and attraction.

Learn more

• Confident social behavior
• Low-confidence social behavior
• Confident speaking
• Unconfident conversation signals you must avoid

Power University takes you all the way from good man, to respect-worthy, high-status, and attractive