Status Psychology and Status Dynamics

Introduction

Instructor: Dr. Rob Henderson

Abraham Maslow’s Definition: Reputation or prestige as respect, esteem, recognition, attention, importance, or appreciation.
Agnes Callard’s Definition: “How much value other people accord you.”
Key Insight: Status exists in the minds of others; you cannot simply declare yourself high status.

Michael Gazzaniga: “When you wake up, you think about status.”
Default Mode Network: Brain areas active when we mind-wander are the same as when we think about social status and evaluation.

Defined by Tania Reynolds: Examining how the mind evolved to solve problems faced by human ancestors.
Human evolution:
300,000 years of hunter-gatherer life shaped our psychology.
10,000 years ago, the agricultural revolution shifted our environment.
Mismatch Hypothesis: Traits that were once adaptive may be maladaptive today (e.g., overeating in food-abundant environments).

Evolution prioritizes reproduction over survival.
Risk-taking behavior: Increases reproductive opportunities despite survival risks.
Dominant vs. non-reproductive individuals: Those preoccupied with survival but not mating leave fewer descendants.

Traits: Social acceptance, stable self-esteem, conscientiousness.
Mechanism: Freely conferred status based on competence and knowledge.
Example: Stephen Hawking – admired for contributions rather than force.
Benefits: Teaching, granting access to resources, status boost by association.

Status desire varies by individual similar to hunger—everyone experiences it, but at different intensities.
Key Factors Affecting Status Pursuit:
Intelligence
Big Five Personality Traits
Self-Monitoring
Dark Triad and Light Triad traits
Age differences in status pursuit
Virtue signaling and moral grandstanding

Arthur Jensen’s Definition: Intelligence is the ability to quickly assimilate, retrieve, and apply information.
Correlation with Status:
IQ predicts income (correlation ~0.3-0.4) and leadership emergence.
Education raises expectations for status but does not necessarily increase happiness.
The “Sweet Spot” for Intelligence in Social Influence: IQ ~119.
Presidential elections: The “less intelligent” candidate often wins due to relatability.

Big Five Model (OCEAN):
Openness: Creativity, willingness to relocate, taste for abstract intellectual content.
Conscientiousness: Punctuality, industriousness, routine-driven, slight correlation with higher earnings.
Extroversion: Social energy, higher likelihood of leadership positions, slight wage boost.
Agreeableness: Desire for harmony, negatively correlated with leadership selection and income.
Neuroticism (Emotional Stability): Higher neuroticism → lower earnings, greater emotional volatility.
Self-Monitoring: Awareness of social cues; high self-monitors gain influence and career advancement.

Grandiose Narcissism: Predicts a desire for status but inconsistent in attaining it.
Psychopathy: High risk-taking for status, but low impulse control leads to failure.
Machiavellianism: Strategic exploitation, higher status when combined with intelligence.
Corporate Psychopathy: ~13% of executives show psychopathic traits, compared to 20-30% of prisoners.

Humanism: Appreciation of others’ achievements.
Kantianism: Integrity and honesty.
Faith in Humanity: Trust in people’s good nature.
Effect on Well-being: Light Triad correlates with higher self-esteem, self-awareness, and income.

Young Adults: Highest interest in status, peak Dark Triad traits, peak crime rate (~19 years old).
Older Adults: Lower status motivation, higher Light Triad scores, greater life satisfaction.

Cyberball Study: Being left out of a simple game triggers emotional distress, highlighting deep evolutionary fears of exclusion.
Fairness and Status: People care about fairness as a sign of status recognition more than material rewards.
Strong Situations: Some social contexts enforce status regardless of personality traits (e.g., red lights, established hierarchies).

Status is a core human motive, but individuals vary in pursuit intensity.
Personality traits and intelligence affect status acquisition.
The Dark Triad increases status-seeking but does not guarantee success.
Older individuals prioritize social harmony over status pursuit.
Social exclusion has deep psychological effects, emphasizing the need for social belonging.