Cost of Glory 112 - The Psychology of Envy and the Fall of Caesar: w/ Rob Henderson
19 snips
Sep 23, 2025 
In this engaging conversation, Rob Henderson, an Air Force veteran and psychologist with a PhD from Cambridge, dives into the complexities of envy, drawing parallels from Julius Caesar's assassination to modern dynamics. He explores the distinction between dominance and prestige in social status, explaining how these concepts shape behaviors and relationships. Rob shares insights on the impact of luxury beliefs and the tendency to downplay success. He also discusses the importance of long-form reading in an age dominated by TikTok, emphasizing how biographies can guide and inspire.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
History Reveals Recurring Human Patterns
- Psychology often obsesses over the immediate present and misses deep, recurring patterns visible in history.
- Rob Henderson argues history and philosophy reveal recurring human passions that short studies cannot capture.
Envy Versus Jealousy And Malicious Envy
- Envy and jealousy are distinct: envy wants what another has, jealousy protects what you already possess.
- Rob Henderson highlights malicious envy as a desire to level others down, sometimes into negative-sum games.
Two Routes To Status: Dominance And Prestige
- Status divides into dominance (intimidation, coercion) and prestige (skill, admiration).
- Dominance predicts malicious envy while prestige predicts upward emulation and positive envy.
