<i>I don't believe in the alpha/beta dichotomy. Well, there's some truth in it, but among my friends, we actually jokingly talk about "alpha male types" who are kind of loud, and crass, and things.</i> [snip] 
<i>For me, I usually think of things as strong/average/weak, where strength is of character, internal strength so to speak.</i><p>External assertiveness and internal strength usually go together, and when it comes to attraction, women don't seem to actively distinguish between them.  They're attracted to cockiness.  They do, however, notice when somebody points out that the two things aren't in sync.  Make a cocky guy look like a fool, and you've turned his cockiness into a negative.  Wit is the key.<p>However, wit and foolishness are in the eye of the beholder.  Your wit might turn one woman's head and mystify the rest.  You can adapt your wit to your audience to a certain extent, but it's more realistic to focus on an audience that is capable of appreciating you.  You're never going to undermine a stereotypical sexy worthless asshole in the eyes of a sexy worthless bimbo; they're made for each other, and everybody else should just get out of the way.