Status Games

People care about status despite their best intentions because our brains are wired this way. But playing status games can be stressful, anxiety-provoking, and joy-stealing. Learn to rewire your brain to replace the trap of social comparison with joy of self-confidence.

Loretta G. Breuning, PhD, is founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and professor emerita of management at California State University, East Bay. She is the author of many personal development books, including Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain Your Brain to Boost Your Serotonin, Dopamine, Oxytocin and Endorphin Levels and Tame Your Anxiety: Rewiring Your Brain for Happiness. Dr. Breuning's work has been translated into ten languages and is cited in major media. Before teaching, she worked for the United Nations in Africa. The Inner Mammal Institute offers videos, podcasts, books, blogs, multimedia, a training program, and a free five-day happy-chemical jumpstart. Details are available at InnerMammalInstitute.org. She lives in Oakland, CA.

Preface: How I Stopped Selling Introduction: Why We Care About Status Part 1: Why Status Games Are Relentless 1. Status Games in Animals 2. Social Rivalry Among Early Humans 3. Status Games Around the World Part 2: How Our Brain Creates Status Games 4. Serotonin and the Pleasure of Social Dominance 5. Cortisol and Status Stress 6. Why It's Always High School in Your Brain Part 3: Healthy Alternatives to Status Games 7. A Healthy Serotonin Mindset 8. Practical Steps Toward Serotonin 9. Help Others Escape Status Games Epilogue Index About the Author