Probably sexual selection, but not just that. Many people like to have some basis for feeling that they're better than others - they're smarter, or better look

Probably sexual selection, but not just that. Many people like to have some basis for feeling that they're better than others - they're smarter, or better looking, or stronger, or richer, or a better cook, or something. Well, the elites have defined a game of social status (specifically status within their circles). This is a game at which they win and we lose. This lets them feel like they are better (literally "our betters"). But if you think about it, they defined a game where they not only get to write the rules, they also get (collectively) to be the judges of the contestants. And, no surprise, they keep coming out the winners and everybody else keeps coming out the losers. For everyone else, the only winning move is not to play. Let the "elite" play their narcissistic status game by themselves. Instead of trying to imitate them (and failing), find something real do and to be.