[Link] How Signaling Ossifies Behavior

Jayson_Virissimo

Here is a new post at EconLog in which Bryan Caplan discusses how signalling contributes to the status quo bias.

The lesson: In the real world, signaling naturally tends to ossify behavior - to lock in whatever the status quo happens to be. If you're an optimist, you can protest, "It's only a tendency." But even an optimist should admit that this tendency leads to atypically slow and unreliable progress.

Here is a new post at EconLog in which Bryan Caplan discusses how signalling contributes to the status quo bias.

The lesson: In the real world, signaling naturally tends to ossify behavior - to lock in whatever the status quo happens to be. If you're an optimist, you can protest, "It's only a tendency." But even an optimist should admit that this tendency leads to atypically slow and unreliable progress.

"trans people still can't serve in the US military" You mean people who intend to, are transitioning, or who have? Because if it's the second option, seems like there's a few good reasons (huge mood swings, poor ability to -cope- with said mood swings, unreliable physical performance).

"do a three-way makeout session in a high-traffic public area"

I presume you mean high foot traffic, because the alternative (say, on a roundabout) would make it materially harder to drive safely.

It's interesting that all of your examples seem connectable to hygiene.

Barefeet doesn't present a hygiene risk unless you are in the habit of then jumping on counters or tabletops, but there is a clearly evident superstition that it does.
Walking on all fours transfers germs from the floor to your hands, which is a genuine, though perhaps not very large, risk to anyone who handles a video you've picked up or shakes your hand
Makeouts seem to have some level of 'dirtiness' associated with them. This is not altogether unfounded (transfer of herpes/cold sore bugs is well documented) but doesn't present a passive environmental risk (ie. it's only a risk to others whom you kiss or give oral to.)
Go to a restaurant topless - This doesn't actually have hygiene implications but it's not a great leap for people to think it does. Also if we're talking about staff intolerance, topless people are more vulnerable to food burns in case of accident, particularly given that said toplessness may distract enough to cause an accident. Which probably is significant given how litigous the US is.
Take the bus topless -- I think this is the same as the above but may also present a traffic hazard.

I seem to remember someone posting research before, that connected people's sense of morality directly with their sense of hygiene (that is, morally problematic acts actually -felt- physically dirty). Wish I could recall the link.

"Transgender individuals are prohibited from entering military service by medical regulations. To join the military, potential service members are required to undergo a physical examination as part of the entry process. During this examination, the military may reject the potential service member if he or she has had any type of genital surgery. "

And, yes, I'd meant foot traffic. I find major bus/train stops, and parks, both work well for this purpose.

I've read the same hygiene article, bu I'm not sure what would be weird and NOT technically a te... (read more)

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[Link] How Signaling Ossifies Behavior

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[Link] How Signaling Ossifies Behavior

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