○○○
Social structure sets the context for what we do, feel, and think, and ultimately, then, for the kind of people we become. ~ James Henslin
Brought up with an inculcated sense of limited resources, and regularly facing competitive situations, desire for dominance is practically bred into humans. This owes in large part to the historical failure of large-scale cooperation in equitable allocation of resources.
Family units regularly share. But instances where this has been accomplished at even the group level are rare. In modern times, the Israeli kibbutz movement, began in 1909, is the best-known example of attempting an egalitarian social structure.
The desire for high status is never stronger than in situations where “ordinary” life fails to answer a median need for dignity and comfort. ~ Swiss-English writer Alain de Botton
Vying for dominance – control over others’ behaviors, and hence some reaping of the fruit of others’ efforts – is the sociological equivalent of capitalism. Social and economic power are not kissing cousins: they are Siamese twins.
