Modern Wisdom

#374 - Will Storr - How To Play The Status Game

Sep 20, 2021

Will Storr is an award-winning author and journalist whose work delves into the complexities of the human status game. In this engaging discussion, he explores the profound impact of status as the original human currency, influencing everything from mate selection to modern cancel culture. Storr shares fascinating insights, including how growing a yam can elevate one's standing in a tribe. He also examines how status dynamics can lead to extreme behaviors and the relationship between humiliation and violence, making for a thought-provoking conversation.

01:14:50

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Will Storr

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Quick takeaways

Status has been crucial for human survival, providing access to mates, resources, and safety.

Anything can symbolize status, from a giant yam in Micronesia to luxury cars, watches, and even activism, with variations across cultures and time periods.

Striving for higher social rank through dominance, virtue, and success is a key driver of human behavior towards attaining status and the potential psychological impacts of rapid status gains or losses.

Deep dives

Status as the Original Human Currency

Status has been crucial for human survival, providing access to mates, resources, and safety. Even in modern times, our desire for status remains strong.

Embody Warmth, Sincerity, and Competence

01:29

Youth vs. Age: The Dynamics of Dominance

00:53

The Lizard and the Iceberg

01:27

Rivalry Breeds Ineffective Competition

01:12

Intro

2min

Navigating Identity Protection in the Digital Age

2min

The Yam and Status: A Cultural Exploration

11min

Exploring Leadership Dynamics and Cultural Responses to Threats

3min

The Status Game: Understanding Human Dynamics

15min

The Impact of Status and Humiliation

5min

The Complexities of Status Dynamics

19min

The Dynamics of Status Games and Cancel Culture

21min

Will Storr is an award winning author and journalist.

Status is the original human currency. Prestige, renown, respect and admiration are all sought after because it gave our ancestors better access to mates, safety and resources. Now the modern era has arrived, the lions are no longer chasing us but our desire for status is a strong as ever.

Expect to learn why growing a huge yam can make you the favourite in your tribe, why tall poppy syndrome exists, the reason for our conscience, the risks of radically gaining or losing status, the winning qualities to develop if you want to enhance your status, how the status game relates to cancel culture and much more...

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Extra Stuff:

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