Human Peacocking's definitions

Virtue brag

Bragging that one voluntarily exercises self restraint in the face of temptation, or takes less than one can out of moral purity or other lofty sensibilities

Tom is virtue bragging about how he paid more for his new yacht because it has more efficient fuel use and doesn't pollute the environment as much.

by Human Peacocking June 6, 2023

Tenure brag

When someone highlights how long they have been doing something (years playing a sport, years working in a company, years living in a neighborhood, years sober, overall age, etc). This is type of brag or showing off, highlighting the speaker's status based on the amount of time they've been around

There goes Thomas tenure bragging again about how he's been sober longer than anyone else at the party!

by Human Peacocking May 13, 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

Hustle Brag

(verb)
To brag about the high amount of effort that one puts into an activity
To emphasize that you work harder than other people, sacrifice while others are consuming, and otherwise have put in more effort, likely leading to well deserved or earned success.

He wrote some hustle bragging post on linked-in about he only sleeps 3 hours a day and works the rest

by Human Peacocking April 18, 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

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

Davos Effect

The Davos effect refers to when two high status people walk towards each other with no idea who is higher or should get out of the other's way.

It happens in environments where there are very high status people but with no hierarchical context or idea of who the others are.

The term was coined for the World Economic Forum (WEF), held in Davos. Because high status attendees are not allowed to bring an entourage, no one knows who is higher in status and they habitually walk into each other because everyone refuses to give way.

Those two CEOs just showed the Davos Effect, they walked directly into each other, neither knew who should get out of the other's way!

by Human Peacocking January 23, 2024