Presentation is a delicate balancing game when to flaunt it and when to store it. One important skill anyone need to develop is calibration, when actions are appropriate and when are the inappropriate for a specific goal.
In an a multi-experiment study, published in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, a team of researchers from major business schools led by University of Michigan but also Stern from New York University and Wharton of University of Pennsylvania, researchers found that when we want to be seen as a cooperative team player, best to keep the status-signaling on the down low.
The study involved a total of 6 different experiments with more than 2,800 participants from online and behavioral labs to determine how people respond to status signaling and the behavioral choices behind it.
Overall, they found that modesty was associated with a better team player. When participants were asked to pick from samples of people who they deemed would be a cooperative player for their team, they tend to pick those who looked modest or had a modest social media post. Vice versa, when people were told that they were applying to be on a team, participants would pick the modest presentation.
Status signalers create an appearance that makes them appear less cooperative and more self-interested. As result, others tend to avoid working with them when they have to pick members for their team, for example, during a job search.
However, there are also times when status signalers and their conspicuous consumption is welcomed. The researchers found that participants were more like to choose some who signals their wealth or status in a scenario where they are looking for a competitive, game-changing team member.
“This experiment shows that people are attuned to when the value of luxury logos switches from positive to negative,” stated author, Shalena Srna. “Not only are people strategic about when to signal status, they are also strategic about modesty.”
The study highlights the utility of when and when not to signal status. While status signaling draws attention and may power-tie us on to the team, bringing some clout, when the actual work needs to be done with the team, modesty is the best way to go. But life in general, seeing that we live in a society requiring team work more often then not, modesty is probably the best baseline because status signaling, as evidenced in the study, can attract negative assumptions about an individual.
S Srna et al. On the value of modesty: how signals of status undermine cooperation.. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. DOI:10.1037/pspa0000303
