Everyday conventions carry status value that yields social rewards or penalties

Evidence

Status value is implicit—we can’t measure it like we would the price of commodities. And we often sense it in conventions without seeing a direct connection to high-status groups. Due to the status taboo, we rarely directly verbalize the fact that status value exists, but it’s far from imaginary. No one may be healed with divine magic when they are told “bless you,” but the statement has a neutral status value. Saying that conventional phrase to neighbors provides social approval; saying nothing or suggesting the neighbor may have caught a contagious illness will be met with social disapproval. When we follow a convention with high status value, we improve our chances to secure normal status from a higher-status group and thus derive superior social benefits. If we choose to take part in a convention with low status value, we risk losing those benefits. — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 153

Categorization

• DEFINE: Introduces and anchors the concept of ‘status value’ as distinct from price or practical utility.
• XREF: connects to: Status groups originate and preserve the conventions that become social norms — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 129; Status conventions can be deadly for those who conform to them — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 139; Older conventions get chosen because they lower social risk — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 646 (+7 more)

Broader Connections

• Absences of conventions themselves act as status signals #expands (0.85) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 203
• Conformity to social norms persists because deviance carries individual and social costs #expands (0.83) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1899
• Status groups originate and preserve the conventions that become social norms #expands (0.82) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 129
• Groups can gain status by persuading society to value their own criteria #exemplifies (0.80) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 304
• Status conventions can be deadly for those who conform to them #qualifies (0.78) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 139
• Status dynamics determine what counts as historically valuable #expands (0.77) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 640
• Status-seekers rationally join groups that reward the virtues they already possess #exemplifies (0.76) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 100
• Older conventions get chosen because they lower social risk #exemplifies (0.75) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 646
• Norms persist only while conformity benefits outweigh deviance rewards #qualifies (0.74) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 139