The connection you draw between identity narratives and social status reminded me of something I’ve been thinking about a lot: how we elevate ‘outliers’ almost reflexively, even if we don’t really understand them. I explored this in a recent piece about what I call the Outlier Paradox—would love your thoughts if you have a moment: https://ridingthecurrent.substack.com/p/the-outlier-paradox-why-we-follow
41:30: shift from instrumental social value to relational social value is SPOT ON!! Love that line.
The connection you draw between identity narratives and social status reminded me of something I’ve been thinking about a lot: how we elevate ‘outliers’ almost reflexively, even if we don’t really understand them. I explored this in a recent piece about what I call the Outlier Paradox—would love your thoughts if you have a moment: https://ridingthecurrent.substack.com/p/the-outlier-paradox-why-we-follow