Is the desire for status a fundamental human motive? A review of the empirical literature.

@article{Anderson2015IsTD,
  title={Is the desire for status a fundamental human motive? A review of the empirical literature.},
  author={Cameron Anderson and John Angus D Hildreth and Laura Howland},
  journal={Psychological bulletin},
  year={2015},
  volume={141 3},
  pages={
          574-601
        }
}
The current review evaluates the status hypothesis, which states that that the desire for status is a fundamental motive. Status is defined as the respect, admiration, and voluntary deference individuals are afforded by others. It is distinct from related constructs such as power, financial success, and social belongingness. A review of diverse literatures lent support to the status hypothesis: People's subjective well-being, self-esteem, and mental and physical health appear to depend on the… Expand
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The results demonstrate that the effects of status and legitimacy on generosity can be attributed to concerns about equity in status allocation, and hypothesize that status increases generosity when the status hierarchy is perceived as illegitimate, due to efforts to restore equity through one’s generosity. Expand
The Role of Subjective and Objective Social Status in the Generation of Envy
TLDR
It is consistently found that those who were the most respected in the eyes of others were envied more than the richest ones, indicating that envy is rather a subjective social status related emotion. Expand
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TLDR
Findings provide a possible explanation for why status hierarchies are so stable and why inequality rises in social collectives over time. Expand
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ABSTRACT This manuscript aims to address existing ambiguity on the behavioural consequences of (low) status in groups by examining mechanisms and moderating factors in the linkage between individual… Expand
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References

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This chapter focuses on the ways in which people seek status in their interpersonal interactions and relationships. Our analysis conceptualizes status as the degree to which other people perceive… Expand
Status As a Valued Resource
The striving for status has long been recognized in sociology and economics. Extensive theoretical arguments and empirical evidence propose that people view status as a sign of competence and pursue… Expand
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TLDR
While individuals might universally desire high levels of respect, it is found that they vary widely in the extent to which they strive for high-status rank, with many individuals opting for middle- or low- status rank. Expand
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TLDR
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TLDR
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TLDR
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TLDR
The authors argue that individuals' perceptions of their status are highly accurate--that is, they closely match the group's perception of theirstatus--because forming overly positive status self-perceptions can damage individuals' acceptance in a group. Expand
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The primary focus of this study is upon variation in the effect of status upon self-esteem. Data were collected through interviews with the senior class of a Michigan high school. The findings… Expand
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