Dominance, prestige, and the role of leveling in human social hierarchy and equality.
Summary of "Dominance, prestige, and the role of leveling in human social hierarchy and equality."
How humans and other social species form social hierarchies is one of the oldest puzzles of the behavioral and biological sciences. Considerable evidence now indicates that in humans social stratification is principally based jointly on dominance (coercive capacity based on strength, threat, and intimidation) and prestige (persuasive capacity based on skills, abilities, and knowledge). Although intimidation can beget compliance, hierarchical relationships based on dominance are relatively less stable. Here, I consider the costs and benefits of each form of hierarchical structure for high-ranking and low-ranking individuals, and propose that humans have evolved a tolerance for stratification based on prestige and a resistance towards coercive dominance. In humans (and other social primates), anti-dominance instincts often escalate into large-scale coordinated leveling efforts to suppress the power of coercive aggrandizers. By contrast, prestige, which produces mutually beneficial outcomes with followers, is recognized and widely endorsed.
Affiliation
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Current opinion in psychology
ISSN: 2352-2518
Pages: 238-244
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31794955
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2019.10.004
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Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Social Dominance
Social structure of a group as it relates to the relative social rank of dominance status of its members. (APA, Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms, 8th ed.)
Social Class
A stratum of people with similar position and prestige; includes social stratification. Social class is measured by criteria such as education, occupation, and income.
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Social rank-order established by certain behavioral patterns.
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An interactive process whereby members of a community are concerned for the equality and rights of all.
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Political movement which combines nationalism with demands for political and social renewal. Characteristics include militaristic nationalism, belief in a natural social hierarchy and the rule of elites, and the desire to create a “people’s community”, in which individual interests would be subordinated to the good of the nation. (From www.britannica.com/topic/fascism)
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