Mental Model – Signaling Theory

One of the biggest mental model obsessions I’ve had for the past few years – so consuming that I rarely even mention it in public, and hardly ever on this site as I am still working on fully grasping the implications and mechanics – is something called signaling theory.  The gist of signaling theory is that at all times, in all situations, you are broadcasting aspects of your identity, beliefs, personality, and lifestyle to the people around you, often with significant social implications.  It exerts such a strong pull on civilization that I consider it second only to the social proof mental model in importance.  It interacts with other mental models so efficiently, it often goes unnoticed.