Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 19, 2026

A Complex Diving-For-Food Task to Investigate Social Organization and Interactions in Rats
Published on: May 8, 2021
Drivers of desire for social rank
Rebecca L Mitchell1, Katherine K Bae2, Charleen R Case2
1Management Department, Michigan State University, United States.
Abstract:
Why are humans so often obsessed with climbing social hierarchies and increasing their social rank? This question has fascinated psychologists for decades and, in this paper, we review recent research intended to answer five specific questions related to people's desire for high social rank: (1) why do people desire high social rank, (2) for whom is the desire for high social rank the strongest, (3) when (i.e., under which circumstances) is the desire for social rank the strongest, (4) what are the consequences of the desire for high social rank, and (5) when and why do people not desire to maximize their social rank? Finally, we offer future directions for research on drivers of desire for social rank.
Related Concept Videos
Secondary Motives: Power Motivation and Achievement Motivation
Power motivation is characterized by the desire to influence, control, or have an impact on others. It is shaped by an individual's experiences, social environment, and cultural context. People with high power motivation are...
Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison
Need for Self-Esteem
Secondary Motives: Affiliation Motivation and Aggression Motivation
Drive-Reduction Theory: Push Theory of Motivation
Factors Influencing Attraction VI: Personality Traits

