How Does Social Status Relate to Self-Esteem and Emotion? An Integrative Test of Hierometer Theory and Social Rank Theory

Drawing together insights from two theories—hierometer theory and social rank theory—we investigated the links among social status, self-esteem, and emotion. Both theories address how individuals navigate social hierarchies. Both posit adaptive dynamics whereby a social input (status or rank) shapes one or more psychological mechanisms, which then regulate a behavioral output. However, they emphasize different psychological mechanisms. Whereas hierometer theory emphasizes self-regard—in particular, self-esteem—social rank theory emphasizes emotions—in particular, depression, anxiety, and shame. We tested hypotheses derived from these theories, examining the links among status, self-esteem, and these emotions, across six studies (N = 1,719). In Studies 1 and 2 (cross-sectional), status correlated positively with self-esteem, and negatively with depression, anxiety, and shame (but not guilt). Studies 3–6 established the causal pathways between these constructs for the first time. In Studies 3 and 4 (experimental), increasing status induced higher state self-esteem, and lower depression, anxiety, and shame (but not guilt). In Studies 5 and 6 (experimental), increasing self-esteem induced lower depression, anxiety, and shame. Finally, across studies, self-esteem statistically and causally mediated the links between status and depression, status and anxiety, as well as status and shame. Our research advances theoretical and empirical understanding of self-esteem and emotion as functional trackers of one’s place in the social hierarchy. It points to self-esteem playing a more primary role as a tracker of status, helping to explicate how and why status is related to these clinically relevant emotions.