Prestige evolved to gain access to skilled cultural holders’ know-how

Evidence

Overall, cultural evolution is smarter than we are, and our species evolved genetically in a world full of cultural stuff—ranging from sophisticated technologies like snow houses to nuanced protocols like using ash to chemically release key nutrients from corn—that people had to just put their faith in. Relatively early in our species lineage, surviving by one’s wits alone without leaning on any cultural know-how from prior generations meant getting outcompeted by better cultural learners, who put their efforts into focusing selectively on what and from whom to learn. However, even if you can figure out what to learn and from whom, it doesn’t mean that those who possess the most valuable cultural know-how will be motivated to permit you to hang around them and freely tap their accumulated wisdom. It’s this evolutionary challenge that gave us prestige. — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success, 385

Categorization

• XREF: Links to Henrich’s prestige-based social learning account and to the reader’s interest in conformist-bias transmission — prestige is the complementary bias to copying the majority. — connects to: Exclusive access and insider cultural knowledge create prestige independent of money. — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 216; Even running form is learned culturally from prestigious elders — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success: How Culture…, 264; Prestige status emerges from second-order cultural learning cues, not verified skill — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success: How Culture…, 393 (+7 more)
• DEFINE: Gives the causal origin definition of prestige: an adaptation for access to valuable know-how holders.

Broader Connections

• Prestige status emerges from second-order cultural learning cues, not verified skill #contradicts (0.90) — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success, 393
• Prestige status requires explanation as information-goods access. #expands (0.85) — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success, 1218
• Elders gain prestige because age signals accumulated cultural knowledge and wisdom. #corroborates (0.80) — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success, 442
• Prestige evolved as a second status system distinct from dominance #qualifies (0.80) — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success, 48
• Prestige grants influence far beyond the domain of skill #qualifies (0.75) — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success, 388
• Once cultural knowledge accumulates, individuals cannot invent better traits than they can copy #qualifies (0.75) — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success, 205
• Elite taste favors forms requiring cultivated knowledge to enjoy #exemplifies (0.75) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 253