Human beings, your customers included, are concerned about their status in society—and have been for as long as societies have existed. That's because much of status-seeking is instinctual: It's hard-coded in us because status improves our chances of survival.

"People learned early on that respect from their community translated directly into better protection, more desirable mating options, and better cuts of shared resources like food and shelter," points out ablog post and infographicbyLexington Law, which provides credit-repair services.

在现代消费社会中,that instinct can express itself in some interesting ways. For example,77% of Millennialsadmit to having made a purchase so that they could post about it on Instagram.

Psychologists categorize status as an "esteem need" on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs:

As the infographic points out for the sake of achieving status—and therefore esteem—people will change habits, diets, even their looks.

To find out more about the psychology of status, check out the infographic: