Human Peacocking's definitions

Humility brag

To conspicuously show off how humble one is. To advertise that one doesn't have an ego, that one doesn't want or seek status or attention, doesn't care about fame/fortune, etc.

Look at John humility bragging about how he never takes credit for anything!

by Human Peacocking May 12, 2023

Neuro-Bullshit

Neurological terms, photos of brains, or other brain scientific imagery, language, or concepts used to persuade an audience of people who are not neuroscientists.

The guy made a claim we were supposed to believe and then to convince us he just started spouting a lot of neuro-bullshit about the brain.

by Human Peacocking May 30, 2024

Vocal Yokle maneuver

When a high status & otherwise vocally articulate person deliberately speaks in very plain, simple, folksy, or uneducated language.

Often used by politicians, super rich, or other high status people when they want to see close to a lower status audience

Look at that fancy lawyer pulling the vocal yokle maneuver by speaking in super simple words to the jury as if he's not fancy, rich, & overeducated

by Human Peacocking May 10, 2023

McDonalds Maneuver

When a high status person conspicuously eats at a lowly or common establishment with lots of media watching in order to get public attention for being a "man/woman of the people" and close to the popular masses.

It's a form of false humility

Trump is pulling the McDonalds maneuver on his airplane again with a g6 full of bigmacs

by Human Peacocking April 12, 2023

Status blowback

The negative reaction by an audience to someone who displays or experiences higher status, often as a result of resentment, envy, or jealousy at the person's status.

I don't want to wear my expensive watch to meet that group because of the potential status blowback.

by Human Peacocking April 25, 2024

Trauma Brag

To brag, highlight, or bring attention to hardship that one has experienced. Examples include highlighting one's experience of poverty, illness, abuse, or adversity

These types of brags get attention for higher status signalers and dismissal for low status ones

There's the head of that bank trauma bragging about his illness in order to get more clout in the newspaper headlines

by Human Peacocking June 10, 2023

Pedigree Mimic

A person who pretends to have credentials or background experience or a pedigree that they don't actually have. For example, they did a month course at Harvard and put 'Harvard graduate' on their profiles. Technically this is true, but the audience assumes a broader pedigree than the person actually has.

Tom's resume was selected because he's was pedigree mimicing and included that week harvard class in his resume.

by Human Peacocking July 7, 2023