The Impact of Social Status on Decisions to Punish and Trust

ABSTRACT Social decisions occur across various contexts, and this review highlights how an individual's social status can influence these decisions. We summarize psychological research on the impact of social status on decision making and propose extending the theoretical framework known as the Social Status Framework, to include considerations of how status shapes trust and punishment. We begin by defining the concept of social status and then examine its influence on two key areas of social interactions: punishment and trust. Additionally, we discuss the potential interactions between social status and other social identity characteristics within these dynamics. Finally, we propose promising directions for future research to explore the complex relationships between social status and decision making, specifically trust and punishment, across diverse contexts and among different populations.