In response to Competent Elites
Comment author: Jerome_Thomas 27 September 2008 03:59:03PM 3 points [-]

Something to bear in mind. There exists a feedback loop whereby social status and the approval of others, (whether justified or not)increases confidence and self-assurance driving that social status higher still.

It seems quite possible that elites are "sparkly" because of their social status rather than the other way around.