Yes, it’s worth another post—I hadn’t heard that theory before.
::runs off to do some Google searches::
Some difficult work with Google revealed that the technical term is the “sociometer” theory—and it’s fairly recent (the oldest citation I see refers to 1995), which would help explain why I hadn’t heard of it before. It seems consistent with my personal experiences, so I consider it credible.
Thanks for the link CronoDAS. The ‘sociometer’ theory does seem credible, and certainly more so than some of the alternative theories presented there.
What I am not comfortable with is the emphasis placed on minimising the possibility of rejection from the tribe as a terminal value, to the exclusion of the other benefits of status. While explusion from a tribe can lead to physical death or at least genetic extinction, it is hardly the only benefit of high status. Surely a sensitive sociometer serves a goal somewhat more naunced than minimising this one negative outcome!
Yes, it’s worth another post—I hadn’t heard that theory before.
::runs off to do some Google searches::
Some difficult work with Google revealed that the technical term is the “sociometer” theory—and it’s fairly recent (the oldest citation I see refers to 1995), which would help explain why I hadn’t heard of it before. It seems consistent with my personal experiences, so I consider it credible.
For more information:
http://www.psychwiki.com/wiki/Sociometer_Theory
Okay, I’ll definitely post on sociometer theory sometime.
Thanks for the link CronoDAS. The ‘sociometer’ theory does seem credible, and certainly more so than some of the alternative theories presented there.
What I am not comfortable with is the emphasis placed on minimising the possibility of rejection from the tribe as a terminal value, to the exclusion of the other benefits of status. While explusion from a tribe can lead to physical death or at least genetic extinction, it is hardly the only benefit of high status. Surely a sensitive sociometer serves a goal somewhat more naunced than minimising this one negative outcome!