Signaling

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dkirmani (+5/-6) "forgoe" -> "forgo"
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greenrd (+9/-10) consistent spelling
greenrd (+376) Added countersignaling
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Countersignaling is signaling that a naive observer might take to mean that one is the opposite of X, when in fact, one is X, used as a means to signal that one is, in fact, X. For example, aristocrats ("old money") may forgoeforgo gaudy bling in order to signal that they are not nouveau riche (new money), which may lead some people to incorrectly assume that they are not rich.

Signaling is behavior whose main purposedefined by Yvain as "a method of conveying information among not-necessarily-trustworthy parties by performing an action which is more likely or less costly if the information is true than if it is not true". Some signaling is performed exclusively to demonstrate toimpress others that you possess(to improve your status), and in some desirable trait. cases isn't even worth that. In other cases, signaling is a side-effect of an otherwise useful activity.

For example, if doing something is easy for one type of person and hard for another type of person, you might do that thing just to get people to think you're the former type of person, even if the thing isn't in itself worth doing. This could explain many facets of human behavior, and reveal opportunities for reducing waste.

Not all signaling is about abilities. Signaling can also be about personality, current emotional state, beliefs, loyalty to a bird performing an impressive mating display signalsparticular group, status within a group, etc.

Countersignaling is signaling that ita naive observer might take to mean that one is healthy and has good genes.

Signals are more effective ifthe opposite of X, when in fact, one is X, used as a means to signal that one is, in fact, X. For example, aristocrats ("old money") may forgoe gaudy bling in order to signal that they are costlynot nouveau riche (new money), which may lead some people to perform, or if it would be very hard to perform them without possessing the traitsincorrectly assume that they are meantnot rich.

Blog posts

by Robin Hanson

by others

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External links

Signaling is defined by Yvain as "a method of conveying information among not-necessarily-trustworthy parties bybehavior whose main purpose is to demonstrate to others that you possess some desirable trait. For example, a bird performing an action whichimpressive mating display signals that it is healthy and has good genes.

Signals are more likelyeffective if they are costly to perform, or less costly if the information is true than if it is not true". Some signaling is performed exclusivelywould be very hard to impress others (to improve your status), and in some cases isn't even worth that. In other cases, signaling is a side-effect of an otherwise useful activity.

For example, if doing something is easy for one type of person and hard for another type of person, you might do that thing just to get people to think you'reperform them without possessing the former type of person, even if the thing isn't in itself worth doing. This could explain many facets of human behavior, and reveal opportunities for reducing waste.

Not all signaling is about abilities. Signaling can also be about personality, current emotional state, beliefs, loyalty to a particular group, status within a group, etc.

Countersignaling is signaling that a naive observer might take to mean that one is the opposite of X, when in fact, one is X, used as a means to signal that one is, in fact, X. For example, aristocrats ("old money") may forgoe gaudy bling in order to signal thattraits they are not nouveau riche (new money), which may lead some peoplemeant to incorrectly assume that they are not rich.signal.

Blog posts

by Robin Hanson
by others

See also

External links

Countersignaling is signallingsignaling that a naive observer might take to mean that one is the opposite of X, when in fact, one is X, used as a means to signal that one is, in fact, X. For example, aristocrats ("old money") may forgoe gaudy bling in order to signal that they are not nouveau riche (new money), which may lead some people to incorrectly assume that they are not rich.

Countersignaling is signalling that a naive observer might take to mean that one is the opposite of X, when in fact, one is X, used as a means to signal that one is, in fact, X. For example, aristocrats ("old money") may forgoe gaudy bling in order to signal that they are not nouveau riche (new money), which may lead some people to incorrectly assume that they are not rich.

Signaling is [defined http://lesswrong.com/lw/did/what_is_signaling_really/defined] by Yvain as "a method of conveying information among not-necessarily-trustworthy parties by performing an action which is more likely or less costly if the information is true than if it is not true". Some signaling is performed exclusively to impress others (to improve your status), and in some cases isn't even worth that. In other cases, signaling is a side-effect of an otherwise useful activity.

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