The Roots and Fruits of Social Status in Small-Scale Human Societies

Authors

Christopher von Rueden, University of RichmondFollow

Abstract

Since humans have lived in small-scale societies for the majority of their existence, investigation of the determinants and reproductive outcomes of status acquisition in these societies can help elucidate the origins of status psychology. In even the most egalitarian foragers and horticulturalists, interindividual differences in physical size, production skill, generosity, or social support produce disparity in men’s political influence and mating opportunity. The reproductive advantages of status not only include higher fertility from privileged access to marriage partners and extramarital affairs but also better survival of offspring. The emergence of hereditary inequality and stratification by social class only exacerbated the rewards to status. The ethnographic record suggests status acquisition has long been subject to positive selection.

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

2014

Comments

Refer to Dr. Christopher von Rueden's website for further information.

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2014 Springer. This book chapter first appeared in The Psychology of Social Status.

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Recommended Citation

von Rueden, Christopher. "The Roots and Fruits of Social Status in Small-Scale Human Societies." In The Psychology of Social Status, edited by Joey T. Cheng, Jessica L. Tracy, and Cameron Anderson, 179-200. New York, NY: Springer, 2014.