Synonyms
Definition
Sociometer theory suggests that self-esteem functions as a mechanism by which individuals track their relational value (i.e., status) to others. Therefore, individuals who are high in self-esteem tend to be held in high regard.
Introduction
As a species, it is vital for an individual to have a good understanding of where he or she stands in relation to one’s peers and to be able to accurately assess his or her status in a social hierarchy. This understanding allows the individual to reap the benefits of increased cooperation and opportunities for reciprocal altruism, along with increased mating opportunities. Alternatively, a misunderstanding of one’s status would be detrimental. Therefore, it seems likely that not only would individuals be motivated to accurately assess their social status but that there would also be evolved mechanisms to facilitate this process. Indeed, it has been proposed that self-esteem acts as a status-tracking...
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References
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Holden, C.J., Vrabel, J.K., Zeigler-Hill, V. (2016). Self-Esteem as a Status-Tracking Mechanism. In: Weekes-Shackelford, V., Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1443-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1443-1
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