Human Peacocking's definitions

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

Victim brag

To publicly celebrate, highlight, brag about how one (or one's group) was victimized by others.

The greater the harm to the victim, the more notable the brag. The more perpetrators who did the harm, the more notable the brag.

There's john victim bragging again about how his teachers in high school wronged him by giving him tests that were too hard!

by Human Peacocking May 19, 2023

Stigma brag

To brag, highlight, or bring attention to something that is stigmatized, lowly, common, or otherwise commonly unworthy of popular status. Examples include bragging about failures, past trauma, illnessed, hardships, etc.

There goes that super rich politician stigma bragging about how hard his childhood was in order to get further attention & sympathy.

by Human Peacocking May 11, 2023

Veneer Career

The socially respectable and seemingly profitable job or career that a wealthy person claims to have to hide the fact that they don't really work or make money and instead coast off their savings, inheritance, or other handouts.

For example someone might claim to be a 'designer' though no one buys anything they make and they live off their parents, or someone might say they're an 'investor' but they don't invest any money or do anything to make profit.

Such claimed careers and jobs give status and recognition to someone who would otherwise be classified as unemployed or idle.

He claims he's an investor but that's just his veneer career, he just comes from a rich family and spends his parents money but doesn't do anything otherwise. His sister's veneer clothing is a handbag line she puts out which has 2 customers: her parents.

by Human Peacocking December 12, 2024

Eulogy Brag

To brag, highlight, or bring attention to one's close relationship with a recently deceased famous person. Can also include referencing specific stories. Often these are done (consciously or not) to increase status through reminding everyone how close one was to a famous person.

John just posted a 4 page eulogy brag about that famous singer that died who he claims to have known quite well, but who in reality he just met backstage for 1 minute 15 years ago.

by Human Peacocking March 2, 2024

First Rule of Peacocking

The first rule of peacocking is : don't tell the audience what it already knows.

This 'rule' refers to a maxim in social science literature that a person/thing trying to show status should not be repetitive / redundant and give the audience what they already know would happen.

John just violated the First Rule of Peacocking when giving his acceptance speech! he acted like no one knew why they were all there when he told them again about his achievements.

by Human Peacocking June 11, 2023

Death Clout

Publicly highlighting or advertising aspects of one's own impending death that reflect favourably upon the person dying - Often done to get attention & status, or to demonstrate moral superiority over others.

John said he's arranging a green funeral so he can save the planet with his death, he's really going for that death clout

by Human Peacocking January 2, 2023