What is Mission-Based Mentality?

Learning form the independence and initiative of SIGMA

OMEGA and SIGMA do not seem to have much in common besides residing outside the actual ALPHA-GAMMA hierarchy. Both profiles remain independent either through willful action or ostracization by other members of the SSH. Independence is what I am now focusing on. Beyond social difficulties, I have come to realize that even my natural proclivities and interests as well as a live-to-work mentality would make it very difficult to fit into the usual hierarchy while remaining satisfied and accomplishing my life goals. There will soon be a post delving into the implications of the live-to-work mentality and those future goals, but for now it is important to emphasize that my main focus is sharpening the skills that can keep me independent, productive, and succesful on my own terms. It will be a long process to get there, but that is the guiding vision.

What else can be learned from this enigmatic profile?

In keeping with this blog’s goal of uncovering aspects of the high-status male mentality and the goal of acquiring the means of independence, the question now is: what is the SIGMA mission-based mentality? Also: can it be practiced by others?

Looking back on Vox’s post about the nature of high-status decisiveness provides some insights. This excerpt is about Vox’s decision to start selling leatherbound books, even when no one else thought it was a good idea. Let’s take a look:

“I completely ignored every single point raised by every single one of them. Not because they are stupid - this was an unusual case where MPAI did not apply - but because I knew they were perfectly and profoundly ignorant on the subject.”

“I knew the market existed. They did not. So, their opinions were both irrelevant and invalid. Therefore, I cared no more what they thought about it than NASA cared what I thought about the Mars rover. Never allow the opinions of either the ignorant or the idiotic to factor into your thinking in any way, shape, or form, and you will inevitably become more decisive because you are not allowing the uninformed negativity of others to erroneously influence your analysis.”

I interpret this to mean that, for Vox, his mission was to sell these books and he was not going to allow the misguided social pressure of other people to dissuade him. The most notable aspect of this mentality is boundaries. If an OMEGA were in Vox’s situation, they would probably still feel pressured by those uninformed, invalid opinions of others if for no other reason than disapproval itself is scary. For OMEGAS whose behavior was especially influenced by childhood trauma, disapproval from those with authority came with a hefty emotional costs in well being and personal image. This has been my personal experience as well. Even if the opinions of others should sometimes be judged invalid and therefore ignored, the traumatized OMEGA does not have the mental boundaries to effectively ignore them. The SIGMA does, and would not feel his very self-image threatened by shame because some people disagree with him on faulty grounds. Even in a situations where the stakes are much higher this still seems true.

More can be garnered about the mission based mentality and independence. Let’s look at this Hypergamouse comic by Lacey Fairchild and the accompanying commentary:

Hypergamouse episode #102 “Sigma vs Alpha”

In this scene, Dag the SIGMA completely derails the plans of the commanding ALPHA by refusing to comply. He earns the shock of the other men at the table but is fairly nonchalant afterwards. About this comic Vox tells us:

“This episode shows how Sigmas stress the success of the mission, as they perceive it, over the priorities of the hierarchy and the social pressures of being perceived as a team player.”

So, even in the face of a highest-status ALPHA, the SIGMA can still hold to his mission. To a fretful OMEGA, that would seen like a godly feat of confidence. But this independence also has consequences beyond female admiration and personal gain. Vox tells us about what often happens to SIGMAS when they are perceived as too disagreeable:

“Rather like the drama-seeking woman who blows up her every relationship once it gets too smooth and comfortable for her, the Sigma finds it difficult, if not impossible, to remain for long in any social group or organization, no matter how well it functions, how well he is treated, or how successful he is within it.”

Essentially, the SIGMA’S behavior can be self-defeating and potentially endanger the mission. This is an important pitfall to note about the mission-based mentality. Much like a deep sea fish that is specially adapted to withstand the crushing pressures, pitch blackness, and freezing cold, so too is the SIGMA specially adapted to the difficulties of living outside the hierarchy while still managing to attain high levels of socio-sexual success. Still, even with their skills, failure within formal organizations is still very possible and even likely due to their unnerving outsider status.

This is probably why we do not see any profiles in between OMEGA and SIGMA that are also SSH outsiders. One can be a high-performing OMEGA, but the disturbance caused by remaining outside the hierarchy with all the OMEGA weirdness that entails would need to be overcome with incredible confidence and socio-sexual prowess.

It is good that the true meaning of SIGMA is not yet completely lost in a pop culture haze.

In conclusion, my understanding of the SIGMA mission-based mentality is as follows:

1. SIGMA naturally desires that which is considered unconventional by others
2. SIGMA decides to pursue his own personal goals based on said desires
3. SIGMA possesses the confidence necessary to maintain pursuit of his goals if or when their unconventional nature becomes apparent to the hierarchy

For us OMEGAS aspiring to develop a more mission-based frame, not allowing our entire sense of self to be plundered by others, real or imaginary, is an absolute necessity. Luckily, in studying social strategy and relations these last few months, I think I have discovered one of the keys to accomplishing this and am looking forward to sharing the discovery with you all soon.

If you have any thoughts or insights into what the mission-based mentality might be, you are very welcome to share.