What Makes a Good Reputation?

"What is this psychological mayhem? Why did my body think I was in danger? This was, of course, the fight-or-flight response. Something you've surely experienced. It's the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which mobilizes the body's resources to deal with immediate demands, including potential dangers. It's an adaptive system, trading off long-term maintenance for short-term survival. And it doesn't just respond to physical threats. It is tuned to address social threats, too-particularly for us humans."

"Humans evolved in social environments where reputation was essential for survival. What others thought of you shaped your access to partners, mates, and resources. Human prehistory is more complex than the common story of small, isolated, kin-based groups-there was certainly variation. Many individuals, however, probably lacked the opportunity to leave their group, and even when they could, reputational damage likely followed."

A first-year graduate student attended a regional evolutionary social science conference and experienced acute stage fright when preparing to ask a question. Physiological reactions included increased pulse, flushed face, sweating, and full-body arousal. Musical performance experience enabled management of the anxiety and successful participation in the Q&A. The reaction reflected activation of the sympathetic nervous system—the fight-or-flight response—mobilizing resources for immediate demands at the expense of long-term maintenance. The response also targets social threats because human survival depended on reputation. Reputation influenced access to partners, mates, and resources. Human prehistory featured complex social structures beyond isolated kin groups, and reputational damage could carry lasting consequences.

Read at Psychology Today