social signaling theory

Social signaling theory suggests that individuals often engage in behaviors or display certain traits to communicate information about themselves to others, influencing social perceptions and interactions. These signals—such as appearance, achievements, or possessions—serve to demonstrate qualities like competence, status, or reliability without explicit communication. The theory explains how people use these signals strategically to gain social advantages, attract partners, or establish dominance, often balancing genuine qualities with signals that may be more about perception than reality. Essentially, social signals are tools we use to convey our social identity and intentions to others in a complex social environment.