Many things that are intrinsically enjoyable become high-status. One example is having a physically attractive partner. People like having a physically attractive partner partly for intrinsic, non-status oriented reasons - including that we’ve evolved to find certain physical traits attractive. But because most people like having an attractive partner for non-status reasons, it also becomes high-status. Since people vary in attractiveness, there will be competition for the more attractive partners - and winning such competitions is high-status. That provides, in turn, an additional reason to want an attractive partner: status.
Status as a multiplier on intrinsic enjoyment
Status as a multiplier on intrinsic enjoyment
Status as a multiplier on intrinsic enjoyment
Many things that are intrinsically enjoyable become high-status. One example is having a physically attractive partner. People like having a physically attractive partner partly for intrinsic, non-status oriented reasons - including that we’ve evolved to find certain physical traits attractive. But because most people like having an attractive partner for non-status reasons, it also becomes high-status. Since people vary in attractiveness, there will be competition for the more attractive partners - and winning such competitions is high-status. That provides, in turn, an additional reason to want an attractive partner: status.