The Status Game: How Our Desires for Wealth and Status Shape Our Lives

The question of whether life is built on wealth or status has always been a subject of debate. For many, the pursuit of status, wealth, and success seems to be an insurmountable part of human life. However, The Status Game: The Battle for Riches and Respect by Will Storr delves into the intricate mechanisms that drive our quest for these markers of success and how they impact our lives.

The Impact of Status on Health and Well-being

Storr's book highlights the significant influence that status has on our overall health and well-being. For instance, a study discussed in the book reveals that employees at the bottom of the office hierarchy have four times the risk of death compared to those at the top [1]. This finding is not surprising as it aligns with the observed patterns in many other social hierarchies. Lower status often correlates with higher stress levels and poorer health outcomes, leading to premature death.

The Evolutionary Context of Status Games

The status games are deeply rooted in our evolutionary past. In the book, Storr distinguishes three main types of status games: dominance, virtue, and success. Success, encompassing wealth and conspicuous consumption, is particularly noteworthy. The importance of physical appearance is also highlighted, highlighting the significant time and resources people invest in their looks.

The Status Game in Adolescence

The book explores how these status games manifest in adolescence, which is a critical period of development. During puberty, cognitive abilities related to social awareness and decision-making fully develop, leading to the automatic sorting of adolescents into status hierarchies. This sorting is often observed in schools, where popular groups like jocks, trendies, and preppies dominate, while others like nerds, burnouts, and mits find themselves relegated to the bottom. This hierarchy can have long-lasting effects on an individual's life trajectory.

The Role of Neurodivergent Individuals

While status games are considered a human universal, not everyone participates equally in these games. For instance, individuals suffering from sōshōketsuhi, a Japanese term for social withdrawal, face significant challenges in navigating social hierarchies. These individuals often struggle with the complex rules of status games, leading them to become hikikomori—recluses who isolate themselves from society. Additionally, neurodivergent individuals often find it challenging to participate in status games, as they may struggle with the subtle social cues and expectations.

The Four Temperaments and Their Impact on Status Games

The book explores how different evolutionary environments—whether hunter-gatherer, farmer, herder, or pastoral—shape the rules of status games. For example, wealth is a critical status indicator for farmers and herders but not for foragers, who prioritize competence, virtue, and kindness. The shift from foraging to farming and herding also involves a transition from fast life history r-selection to slow life history K-selection, affecting mating strategies and social hierarchies.

The Evolution of Elite Status

In the modern era, the status games have evolved, with some individuals achieving high status through competence and innovation. For example, tech visionaries like Elon Musk and Richard Branson, who are often hunter-gatherer types, dominate modern elite circles. They are more likely to be found at high-brow events than showing off luxury yachts like traditional elites.

For a deeper dive into the three "tribes," their values, and how they navigate the status games, check out my book. This will provide additional insight into the complex interplay between our evolutionary heritage and contemporary societal norms.

[1] The Status Game: The Battle for Riches and Respect by Will Storr, 2021