The ultimate sigma male becomes a style icon. Social mood explains why
Talk about fashion that… slays! The Aug. 13 New York Times names the new haute couture “style icon” — Patrick Bateman, the fictional serial killer from the 2000 cult thriller “American Psycho.” From the NYT piece:
Aspects of Bateman originally intended as satire (his skin-care routine; his lust for money and power) are now not only common but being unironically celebrated in American culture…. Bateman clones were all over the fall 2025 runway.
The article also mentions a newly released perfume scent titled “American Psycho” which features “a blend of bergamot, sage, sandalwood, vetiver and amber.”
And… bleach?
Our December 2024 Socionomist cover story “The ‘Sad, Stupid Rise of the Sigma Male’ Makes Perfect Socionomic Sense” explained how Bateman was “crowned the king of sigma males” in 2021 after “a meme of [his] iconic ‘Ooh face’” went viral. From that report:
The sigma male… is the tradwife’s colorful male bird counterpart; i.e. masculinity on steroids, chased by a 20 oz. Red Bull. From what I’ve gleaned in my research, the sigma male is the classic alpha male minus friends or colleagues — or even a wolf pack. He is a lone wolf extraordinaire.
This 6-page report demonstrates a historic correlation between extreme positive social mood and the emergence of gender ideals which embody extreme masculinity and femininity within film, fashion, and all aspects of pop culture.
You can access the full, 6-page cover story “The ‘Sad, Stupid Rise of the Sigma Male’ Makes Perfect Socionomic Sense” today for just $15!