Vladimir Oane's Key Ideas from The Status Game
by Will Storr

Everything we do in life can be explained as a struggle to win more clout in a community we care about. Generally status can be gained in 3 ways:

• Dominance: Impose your will through force. This applies to dictators as much as verbally abusive partners.
• Virtue: Win points by being better. Think Michelle Obama or Mahatma Gandhi.
• Competence: Be the winner. In business like Donald Trump. Or in beauty like the Instagram models.

Status can be tied to narcissism and other negative traits, but it's the driver behind all our actions, including the positive. We could have never invented anything without it.

When we consider conscience, the ultimate judge in our head, can also be considered a form of a status game. Conscience is just an imagined, a simulated game. We subconsciously imagine what others would think about our actions.

That's why we are proud about ourselves when we do something good even when we are alone. Or we feel shame when we don't raise to the standards of our imaginary audience.