We all want status. Here’s a healthy way to get it

Hacking a deep human desire

We all want status. Or what the kids call “clout.”

It may sound gross, but it’s actually a basic human need, grounded in evolution. Status is about feeling valued in the eyes of others. For millennia, it’s been a core part of how we survived and thrived in groups.

There are lots of ways to earn status. Some are obvious: achievement, wealth, beauty. But each of these goals is shaky ground upon which to build your standing and self-worth—given the brute facts of impermanence and entropy.

However, there is a healthier, more sustainable way to gain status: altruism.

To be super clear: I’m not talking about virtue signaling—which is when we loudly perform our values in public. That kind of moral grandstanding is hollow, and over time, people can sniff it out.

So no, this is not about all-caps activism on Insta. It’s about helping others not to be seen helping, but doing it because you care. You can feel the difference—and so can the people around you.

The radical good news is that when you’re being generous and helpful, the number one beneficiary is…you. The Dalai Lama calls it “wise selfishness.”

More good news: being helpful doesn’t require grand acts of bravery. It can be the quiet, consistent work of holding doors open for people, giving small compliments, or clearing the table after dinner.

For all the bugs in the human operating system, this is a massively positive feature. And if salvation is on offer for the species, I suspect it lies in this direction.

On the pod today, bestselling author Will Storr talks about how status works and why it’s so important. We also talk about the power of narrative for the human animal—and how understanding that can lead to professional success. You can find Will’s Substack here.

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Episode Cheatsheet

The big takeaway

Will Storr delves into the pervasive influence of status in human life, explaining the profound ways it affects our psychological well-being, social interactions, and societal structures. He emphasizes the dual nature of status as a source of both distress and profound fulfillment, encouraging listeners to find balanced ways to navigate their status-seeking tendencies.