The Evolutionary Foundations of Status Hierarchy

Abstract

Abstract This chapter explores the origins, evolution, and psychology of status and social hierarchy. Given the ubiquitous nature of status hierarchies in both human and nonhuman groups, and the fitness consequences associated with position in hierarchies, natural selection likely favored psychological mechanisms specialized for navigating status hierarchies. This chapter explores these status‐relevant mechanisms in several ways. First, we define and distinguish between relevant concepts, such as status, power, dominance, prestige, and leadership. Then we discuss the selection pressures that might have favored the evolution of specific status strategies and psychologies. We do this partially through using the logic of game theory, which can model status competition. Third, we review the existence of various external and internal cues that allow individuals to (a) assess their relative standing vis‐à‐vis others, (b) make status gains, (c) manage status losses, and (d) convert status into reproductive benefits. We also pay attention to evolved sex differences in status psychologies. Finally, we investigate the origins and evolutionary psychology of one specific high‐status position in human societies, leadership.