Humans and Signaling: Pride and Status

Signalling is an important trait and reflects one's social status. The following are some important factors that affect one's perceived status in society.

• miserliness
• altruism
• hard work
• sports
• being well dressed
• shave daily
• muscular physique

Since signalling according to Zahavi is costly and is inherently a handicap hence one must fake some of the signals as effectively as possible. Always hide your miserliness and appear to be altruistic. Never appear to be working hard but being more productive and by hiding the effort required. Being good at sports is another effective signal of status, but efforts must be hidden as this would further increased perceived status.

"Only in recent history has "working hard" signaled pride rather than shame for lack of talent, finesse &, mostly, sprezzatura", Nassim Taleb