Social Status: Down the Rabbit Hole | Melting Asphalt

Social Status: Down the Rabbit Hole | Melting Asphalt

In the complex world of social status, there are two primary forms: dominance and prestige. While dominance is achieved through intimidation and fear, prestige is earned through impressive accomplishments and traits. These two forms of status have their similarities, such as the perks that come with high status, but they also have distinct differences.

Dominance is all about inspiring fear and avoidance. Those with high dominance status expect deference from others and take the perks of their status by force. On the other hand, prestige inspires admiration and approach. Low-status individuals actively seek out prestigious individuals and enjoy spending time around them. The perks of prestige are freely given by admirers, while those of dominance are taken forcefully.

But what drives admiration? Is it simply a desire to learn from impressive individuals? Well, not exactly. While learning may be a factor, admiration goes beyond that. It is the lynchpin of the prestige system. Admiration acts as a bribe, attracting low-status individuals to their prestigious superiors. They hope to spend more time around them and observe their skills and behaviors up close. However, admiration is not solely motivated by a desire to learn. We admire people even when we have little desire to learn from them, and we admire traits that are not learnable skills.

So, what is the root of admiration? One theory suggests that admiration is driven by the potential to learn from prestigious individuals in the future. However, this explanation seems somewhat sloppy in terms of natural selection. There must be something more to admiration than just learning.

Another perspective on admiration comes from the study of babblers, a type of bird. Babblers are known for their intense competition to be helpful to others. They actively compete for the privilege of giving food away and taking on burdensome tasks. This competition for helpfulness is driven by the desire for prestige within the babbler group. Babblers with high prestige are respected and admired by others, which incentivizes the competition for prestige.

In both humans and babblers, prestige means nothing without admiration. Admirers are attracted to prestigious individuals because they are useful to the group. Prestigious individuals have assets that allow them to help others, making them valuable teammates. Admiration and prestige-seeking are teaming instincts that promote cooperation and increase the spoils of cooperative efforts.

In our own society, prestige status can be compared to money. Both reflect the value of individuals as teammates or allies. Money is earned by doing valuable things for others, just like prestige status is earned through impressive accomplishments. Both money and status activate similar regions of the brain and serve as tangible forms of recognition.

The evolution of prestige status in humans can be attributed to a combination of factors. E. O. Wilson suggests that the need for collective defense in semi-permanent "home bases" incentivized group-level cooperation, leading to the development of prestige status. Christopher Boehm and Dessalles propose that the collapse of the dominance system among our ancestors paved the way for the rise of prestige status. Bullies quickly faced consequences unless they balanced their dominance with a lot of prestige, gaining friends and allies in the process.

Understanding the dynamics of dominance and prestige helps us navigate the complexities of social status. By recognizing the value of admiration and the importance of being a valuable teammate, we can cultivate meaningful relationships and achieve higher social standing. Here are three actionable pieces of advice to consider:

1. Focus on building skills and traits that are impressive and valuable to others. By becoming a valuable teammate, you increase your chances of earning admiration and prestige.

2. Cultivate a genuine admiration for those who possess impressive traits or skills, even if you have little desire to learn from them directly. Admiration promotes positive social interactions and can lead to reciprocal admiration from others.

3. Understand the importance of teamwork and cooperation. Being a good teammate and offering support to others can increase your prestige status and strengthen social bonds.

In conclusion, social status is a complex phenomenon that can be divided into two primary forms: dominance and prestige. While dominance relies on intimidation and fear, prestige is earned through impressive accomplishments and traits. Admiration is the key component of the prestige system, incentivizing individuals to compete for prestige and inspiring others to defer and pay respect. By understanding the dynamics of dominance and prestige, we can navigate social hierarchies more effectively and cultivate meaningful relationships.