Dr. Alison Wood Brooks

What does that mean?

When I use the word status, what I mean is likability, respect, power, what the kids these days would call riz, right?

It's these people who have high status are the ones we admire that we like that have power in their groups at work, in their friend groups, in their families.

And so when you hear me say high status, I'm not talking about like fancy or highfalutin or what social class you're in.

Got it.

Literally in your social group, are you respected?

Do you have power?

Do you have influence?

Well, that's everything.

Yeah, it's everything.

That's right.

And have a little fun while you're doing it.

Probably if I was forced to choose the single biggest reason is our human nature of egocentrism.

Yeah, self-centered.

We're self-centered.

We're self-focused.

Our brains are built for survival.

We're focused on what is my perspective?

How can I stave off dangers and fears and stay alive and sort of proliferate my own life and protect my family?

And egocentric, that self-focus is good for survival back when we were hunters and gatherers.