Status Games

Much of our lives are spent in playing games with one another. Games are interactive patterns of thought, speech and action by which underlying needs and goals are achieved. We seldom realize we are playing games, yet they can be recognised and predicted.

High amongst the underlying motivations is gaining of status, where we are considered superior in some way to others and there is a basic structure of the status game. A key reason why this is a game is because status is not taken. We cannot grab status as we grab a stick. Status is given by others as they acknowledge, praise' agree and obey us. It is an affordance that we gain either by honesty or by deceit.

If you can see the game, then you immediately gain far greater ability to influence its outcome. Here are a number of common status games we play.

Basic Status Game: The basic structure to many games of status.

Proving Worthiness: Show you are worthy of admiration.

Status Negotiation: Giving and getting status.

Power Displays: Show your power.

Gossip: Talking about others.

Criticism: Criticize others, ideas, and so on.

Demonstrating Power: Use your power.

Playing Inferior: Give them status and encourage magnanimity.

Equals: Level the status and talk as adults.

One Upmanship: Turn-taking boasting.

Boasting: Telling of great achievement.

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Status Games

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