Episode
#292 - Rob Henderson - Signalling: Why You Do The Things You Do
1:31:25
Published: Mon Mar 08 2021
Description
Rob Henderson is a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge and a US Air Force Veteran. Signalling is something everyone is doing all of the time. We are constantly leaking information about ourselves and our motives, but most of that information is involuntary. Expect to learn why signalling and status are intrinsically linked, how a standing next to a Lexus can increase a man's attractiveness, why putting 20 expensive pens on your desk is a smart idea, why young men play loud music out of their car and much more... Sponsors: Get 20% discount on the highest quality CBD Products from Pure Sport at https://puresportcbd.com/modernwisdom (use code: MW20) Get 83% discount & 3 months free from Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.deals/MODERNWISDOM (use code MODERNWISDOM) Extra Stuff: Follow Rob on Twitter - https://twitter.com/robkhenderson Check out Rob's Website - https://robkhenderson.com Get my free Ultimate Life Hacks List to 10x your daily productivity → https://chriswillx.com/lifehacks/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom - Get in touch. Join the discussion with me and other like minded listeners in the episode comments on the MW YouTube Channel or message me... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ModernWisdomPodcast Email: https://www.chriswillx.com/contact
Chapters
Rob Henderson and his host discuss why signaling and status are intrinsically linked, and how people unconsciously leak information about their motives.
00:00 - 01:30 (01:30)
Summary
Rob Henderson and his host discuss why signaling and status are intrinsically linked, and how people unconsciously leak information about their motives. They explore the underlying principles that guide behavior and why humans are sometimes ridiculous animals.
Episode#292 - Rob Henderson - Signalling: Why You Do The Things You Do
PodcastModern Wisdom
The golden rule of signaling is that everyone is always signaling and there's no escaping it.
01:30 - 07:45 (06:15)
Summary
The golden rule of signaling is that everyone is always signaling and there's no escaping it. However, people may not consciously realize they are signaling at all times.
Episode#292 - Rob Henderson - Signalling: Why You Do The Things You Do
PodcastModern Wisdom
This episode explores the psychology behind why people are so obsessed with material possessions, like fancy cars or expensive pens, and how these possessions are often used to signal status and attractiveness.
07:45 - 14:05 (06:20)
Summary
This episode explores the psychology behind why people are so obsessed with material possessions, like fancy cars or expensive pens, and how these possessions are often used to signal status and attractiveness.
Episode#292 - Rob Henderson - Signalling: Why You Do The Things You Do
PodcastModern Wisdom
Anthropologists have studied the social structures of hunter gatherer communities and found that there is not a firm hierarchy and relationships are evenly distributed.
14:05 - 25:05 (10:59)
Summary
Anthropologists have studied the social structures of hunter gatherer communities and found that there is not a firm hierarchy and relationships are evenly distributed. The "monkey dance" is a sequence observed in these communities when two men verbally threaten each other before eventually resolving the conflict.
Episode#292 - Rob Henderson - Signalling: Why You Do The Things You Do
PodcastModern Wisdom
Self-domestication in early humans can be seen with the creation of hunter-gatherer bands to organize and take out problematic individuals using extended weapons and tools, leading to the development of an egalitarian culture, according to experts.
25:05 - 36:58 (11:53)
Summary
Self-domestication in early humans can be seen with the creation of hunter-gatherer bands to organize and take out problematic individuals using extended weapons and tools, leading to the development of an egalitarian culture, according to experts.
Episode#292 - Rob Henderson - Signalling: Why You Do The Things You Do
PodcastModern Wisdom
Jeffrey Miller's book Spent examines how men's desire to impress women leads to spending vast amounts of money on prestigious education, while displaying wit and intelligence signals problem-solving abilities and reliability.
36:58 - 46:58 (09:59)
Summary
Jeffrey Miller's book Spent examines how men's desire to impress women leads to spending vast amounts of money on prestigious education, while displaying wit and intelligence signals problem-solving abilities and reliability.
Episode#292 - Rob Henderson - Signalling: Why You Do The Things You Do
PodcastModern Wisdom
The concept of conspicuous consumption has evolved throughout history, from people flaunting their expensive shoes and leisure activities in the early 1900s to the counterculture movement of the 60s and 70s and modern-day emphasis on authenticity and personal growth.
46:58 - 52:11 (05:12)
Summary
The concept of conspicuous consumption has evolved throughout history, from people flaunting their expensive shoes and leisure activities in the early 1900s to the counterculture movement of the 60s and 70s and modern-day emphasis on authenticity and personal growth.
Episode#292 - Rob Henderson - Signalling: Why You Do The Things You Do
PodcastModern Wisdom
The use of language when trying to impress others can reveal social and economic insecurities.
52:11 - 58:30 (06:19)
Summary
The use of language when trying to impress others can reveal social and economic insecurities. Often, those at lower-ranking universities or with less prestigious backgrounds will use elevated language to compensate for their perceived lower status.
Episode#292 - Rob Henderson - Signalling: Why You Do The Things You Do
PodcastModern Wisdom
People tend to remember bad things more than good things due to a negativity bias in psychology research.
58:30 - 1:06:33 (08:02)
Summary
People tend to remember bad things more than good things due to a negativity bias in psychology research. Additionally, people tend to feel envy more towards people who are similar to them, as shown in political psychology research regarding attitudes towards political parties.
Episode#292 - Rob Henderson - Signalling: Why You Do The Things You Do
PodcastModern Wisdom
When two people have a shared interest in an obscure band, their favourability ratings are much higher than if they both like a popular band, according to studies.
1:06:33 - 1:14:37 (08:04)
Summary
When two people have a shared interest in an obscure band, their favourability ratings are much higher than if they both like a popular band, according to studies. Convincing people that using certain language can put lives and communities at risk is essential.
Episode#292 - Rob Henderson - Signalling: Why You Do The Things You Do
PodcastModern Wisdom
This conversation explores how the rise of social media and internet culture has transformed communication and how we interact with one another, often prioritizing friendliness and extroversion over authenticity.
1:14:37 - 1:23:53 (09:15)
Summary
This conversation explores how the rise of social media and internet culture has transformed communication and how we interact with one another, often prioritizing friendliness and extroversion over authenticity.
Episode#292 - Rob Henderson - Signalling: Why You Do The Things You Do
PodcastModern Wisdom
The way we assess our own appearance and value in relation to others is often tied to our need for social status, or what economists call 'positional goods', as seen in research demonstrating people's preference for lower pay with higher rank within their social group, and individuals' harsher view of their own appearance in comparison to others.
1:23:53 - 1:30:06 (06:12)
Summary
The way we assess our own appearance and value in relation to others is often tied to our need for social status, or what economists call 'positional goods', as seen in research demonstrating people's preference for lower pay with higher rank within their social group, and individuals' harsher view of their own appearance in comparison to others.
Episode#292 - Rob Henderson - Signalling: Why You Do The Things You Do
PodcastModern Wisdom
In this podcast episode, Rob Henderson talks about cultural evolution and coalitional instinct.
1:30:05 - 1:31:23 (01:17)
Summary
In this podcast episode, Rob Henderson talks about cultural evolution and coalitional instinct. An advertisement for Pure Sport CBD and Surfshark VPN is also included.