Unfortunately, I have seen these status-hacking methods work outside the improv/acting world. In a large company, the smarter but quiet and submissive employee will lose out to the obnoxious, high-sounding more social one. In social circles, the loud person A who pokes fun at B gains the attention and admiration of the crowd. Pick up artists often use the technique of lowering their target's self-esteem as a method of gaining alpha-status, respect and ultimately winning over their target.

I find it disturbing and often battle with the fact that these superficial methods actually work and can affect a person's ability to get ahead. At one of the previous startup schools, I think I remember that the theme around PG's talk was "be good". It's disturbing because using some of these methods to raise one's status feels "anti-good" and counter-intuitive.