Imitation toward superiors and distinction from inferiors are complementary status forces, not hypocrisy

Evidence

Simultaneous imitation and distinction aren’t hypocrisy—they’re universal human behaviors. As we learned earlier, normal status requires following certain conventions. This means imitating our peers, while distinguishing ourselves from the behaviors of lower-status groups and rivals. Meanwhile, achieving higher status requires distinguishing ourselves from our current status tier and imitating the practices of superiors. The end result is that imitation and distinction act as complementary magnetic forces on our lifestyle choices, pushing us toward our perceived superiors and away from our perceived inferiors. And the power behind those forces is status. — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 165

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: People trade off imitation against distinction based on their status position — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 182; Imitation and distinction operate as complementary forces rather than opposites — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 165; Leadership rests on reciprocal imitation, each following because others follow — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 738 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Imitation and distinction operate as complementary forces rather than opposites #expands (0.95) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 165
• People trade off imitation against distinction based on their status position #expands (0.88) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 182
• Aspirants to higher status distinguish themselves via group-approved performance to avoid sanctions for norm-breaking #exemplifies (0.82) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 170
• Leadership rests on reciprocal imitation, each following because others follow #expands (0.78) — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 738
• Leadership derives from reciprocal imitation that frees the leader from individual obedience demands #expands (0.76)
• Strategic identity imitation is a practiced reflex, not intellectual deliberation #expands (0.74) — Donna Landry and Gerald MacLean, The Spivak Reader, 1507