A look at Status Anxiety Disorder History and its Birth

History of Status Anxiety

 Status anxiety is a Bi Product of Community

When civilization started so did the need of people who wanted power, acceptance and love. It is a natural phenomenon that occurs in a society that is layered with different classes of people. So after several centuries of economic, social, and political growth we find people who are looking to achieve great Status and it has become so important to them causing an Anxiety when it is not achieved. The Western World through its tremendous growth in cities and separate classes of people had helped to launch fairly quickly the wanting of the masses to achieve status through work, jobs, titles and positions. Many people of status base it on the amount of money they have and set themselves apart from the classes. In the movie the Titanic you saw a very good contrast of people who had status and people who had no status at all. You can imagine there must have been a big status anxiety from those who had nothing to those who didn’t have as much as their friends .

Just another story of the haves and the have knots living close together in a community where status and privilege received all the glory and benefits and those without status had less opportunities. The rich had art, theatre, power, ballroom dancing, cars and power. The poor just tried to survive working hard and all hours of the day just to be able to put food on the table for their families. Most of those who lived with great status were able to do so through education and upbringing in families that have already achieved great status in their cities or communities.

The Birth of Status Anxiety

Its hard to say how long status anxiety has been around but it is easy to see how man ever since groups and communities were formed have been trying to fight their way to the top. I can imagine even cavemen trying to become the next leader of their group and wanting the status and power of that group. So many people can guess but in reality I believe that it was the forming of communities which lead to status anxiety and its original birth.

 The Modern World and Its Obsession with Status

With the modern world the classes grew further apart and so did those who lived a good life and those who lived terrible under privilege lives. With no hope for the poor and no hand outs from the government there was a barrier created with many fighting for opportunities for advancement and improvement. Not only was that a factor but as new manufactured goods were made people just had to have the latest and greatest thing. They competed against one another to climb the ladder of success and achievement. Success was something that gave power, class, money, and an unlimited potential for love whether it was true love or not. I’m sure the first rich man to buy a private plane was in a status all of his own and it must have felt good. Now those who lived next door or competed with this neighbor had a cause for status anxiety. Now his neighbor was the talk of the town and his power was increasing as was his class. Back then and even today society sees people in certain positions so differently. An example is a “Doctor”, a doctor who has a title and wants to have his title used by everyone. Some doctors get mad if you just call them by their first name. They have in their very own eyes achieved a status through education and feel belittled when you strip their title away. Personally I think anyone who has worked hard at any job and has learned to master what he does is just as important to society. The same goes for teachers who teach our children and help our country grow by molding our children for the future and the jobs to come. But a teacher is often underpaid and does what they love doing. They as a group are not searching for status nor do they suffer from status anxiety.

  Many People would love to be famous and with that is Power and Status

Imagine all the actors and actresses that compete against each other and their main objective is not just getting a job. “They want to be a star”, to be known by all and for many it is not the money but the love from fans, the popularity and achievement, the house in Hollywood, being know by all and a household name. We all dream of success but there are some who thrive on the idea and go through much anxiety when they can’t achieve it. Competition is harsh and it’s a dog eat dog world out there so many are left thinking they deserve the part, their better, they hunger for love and power and being raised to a high level of status.