We all need to define our place in society. We need to define who we are. We need this for ourselves; we need this with respect to the others that matter to us. We do this by displaying behaviour, dress, our choices and activities. We need to belong, to be accepted by our peers.
To define who we are, we mostly look at our peers, the people who surround us. Being in a harmony of behaviour, dress, choices and activities with our peers probably makes us happy individuals.
Everyone is born into a given set of people surrounding us. No one gets to choose into which society they are born. Thus, we are faced with a starting situation. As babies, we naturally copy any behaviour and sounds around us. Soon later we adopt the opinion of those around, embrace their activities and beliefs. Much later, we notice contradictions in what we are told and what we experience and we start to choose our own view. Most of us will not deviate too much from the mainstream around us. Any deviation requires some sort of reasoning, some sort of realisation of what we as an individual dislike about the mainstream discourse. It also requires courage, in particular if we deviate a lot. Puberty breeds rebellion against the mainstream and finds most young struggling to be different, innovative and somehow better.
This human feature is probably the main driver of societal progress.
The young enter the stage and strive for respect. The older generation resists, using its superior experience, and its power, yet, ultimately admitting that the young do have a point.
Being young carries its own status. A status that comes from beauty, fertility and energy. These young eventually gain respect for the achievements they made and the power they gain. As youth fades and ambitions are thwarted, maintaining a status becomes more difficult (unless you are very successful).
What about people born in the lowest layers of society? Like all of us, they first copy the ideas of their environment, then develop their own personality, rebel and try to better themselves, many with rather bad examples to follow. They may become petty criminals as this gains respect and power in their environment. Few take outside examples, study hard and rise in mainstream society as entrepreneurs or politicians. The less ambitious eventually just accept where they are in general society, marry and focus on family with a healthy degree of humility.
Most of the least fortunate muddle along, seeking status symbols by buying fake brand products, boast about their friends and panic when faced with the menu in a French restaurant. Hoping that pretension will help to somehow lift them to a next level of status and power.
The happy few who were born to somewhat affluent and educated parents seek status by climbing the ladders of success in society. They are already respected as kids of their parents. They start at high level of power. It seems easier to them. But falling behind daddy’s achievements can cause serious trouble for their souls.
The nerd, the pop star, the athlete, the gold digger girl, all have ambition and most have a chance in our society. The higher you start the more chance you have. In the old West, fear is strong that chances are less than before. This gives power to sinister populist leaders who blame others for destroying our future.
Meanwhile, everyone continues to market his or her competitive advantage.
What is your’s? Do you recognize this quest for status, respect and power in your environment?