Saved by Danielle Vermeer
Signaling: The Language Peacocks, Gazelles, and Humans All Speak
There is a paradox here: people tend to want wealth to signal to others that they should be liked and admired.
Morgan Housel • The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness
Showy wealth is becoming the tell-tale sign of the insecure middle classes, while the true elite have already moved on to more sophisticated signals.
Richard Meadows • Optionality: How to Survive and Thrive in a Volatile World
Dominance works by inspiring fear and other "avoidance" instincts, so that low-status people try to steer clear of dominant individuals. Prestige, on the other hand, inspires admiration and other "approach" instincts, so low-status people actively seek out prestigious individuals and enjoy spending time around them.