One's social state seems to depend mainly on four major elements whose importance varies and blends with different species and individuals. These are confidence, age, size, and sex. In ethological studies these are the recurrent themes that affect an individual's position in the social hierarchy. It is the general rule among vertebrates, with only a few exceptions, that dominant individuals tend to be experienced, large, older males - and human beings are not one of the exceptions. If it is advantageous to both parties in a conflict to assess their opponent's status properly in reference to themselves, it is not surprising that many displays for communicating social posit ion have evolved.
Displays are stylized gestures or positions used to communicate pieces of information.
Status displays of most vertebrates, including man take root from the four main themes affecting social status. If one wishes to signal dominance, the gestures relevant to the real qualities affecting status are used. An increase in animal size is almost universally recognized as signal of aggression. Height in humans has hidden values far beyond being able to reach the Post Toasties on the top shelf. The individual usually shows confidence in carriage and manner.