Paradox of integration -- Dynamics of two-dimensional status

Abstract

According to Peter M. Blau [Exchange and Power in Social Life, Wiley and Sons, p. 43], the process of integration of a newly formed group has a paradoxical aspect: most attractive individuals are rejected because they raise fear of rejection. Often, their solution is to apply a self-deprecating strategy, which artificially raises the social statuses of their opponents. Here we introduce a two-dimensional space of status, and we demonstrate that with this setup, the self-deprecating strategy efficiently can prevent the rejection. Examples of application of this strategy in the scale of a society are provided.