Status is communicated through manipulable observable characteristics rather than explicit claims

Evidence

With these limitations in mind, signaling emerges as the most practical solution. Rather than make explicit status claims, we can deploy subtle signals. Our demeanor—“etiquette, dress, deportment, gesture, intonation, dialect, vocabulary, small bodily movements and automatically expressed evaluations concerning both the substance and the details of life”—can provide evidence or symbols of high status without making us look as if we’re making a status claim. Economists define signals as the “observable characteristics attached to the individual that are subject to manipulation by him.” Combining this knowledge with what we learned about our imitations and distinctions, our signals draw upon the conventions we consciously choose to follow or not. The 1970s basketball star Walt Frazier signaled his success by driving around Manhattan in a Rolls-Royce. — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 200

Categorization

• DEFINE: Gives the economics definition of a signal (manipulable observable characteristics) and applies it to status behavior.
• XREF: connects to: Status appraisal works by triangulating a whole package of signals against hard-to-fake cues — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 236; Direct status claims are self-defeating because eager signaling signals low status — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 198; Status symbols create a tradeoff between exclusivity and legibility to outsiders — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 224 (+8 more)

Broader Connections

• Hard-to-fake cues reveal status more reliably than purchasable signals can #corroborates (0.85) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 201
• Status symbols create a tradeoff between exclusivity and legibility to outsiders #expands (0.82) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 224
• Understatement can communicate more powerfully than exhaustive description #exemplifies (0.80) — Freeman Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage, 373
• Ascribed high status lets the advantaged claim status without visible effort or symbols #qualifies (0.78) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 286
• Status is judged by gestalt sensibility, not isolated signals #qualifies (0.74) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 248