Social Hierarchies:

Hierarchies in social settings are essential for group survival, establishing order, coordinating, and preventing intragroup conflicts. Group dynamics dictate group members’ priority in social influence, access to resources, and mating opportunities. Groups compare members’ competence in domains useful for group survival and welfare (amassing wealth or knowledge, higher intellect, or physical prowess—bestowing differing amounts of social status (or simply: status) to these members. Status is the amount of prominence, respect, and influence an individual has in a social group. It is indicative of a person’s position within a social hierarchy. Because hierarchies offer higher benefits for those closer to their top, people are assumed to be fundamentally motivated to pursue status. Fundamental motives are universal, higher-order goals that are nonderivative of other goals, arise early in development, shape longer-term wellbeing, and can be satisfied across diverse contexts.