What are the advantages of snobbery?

Answer 1

Being a snob usually means that she believes that some people are inherently inferior to him or her for any one of a variety of reasons.

This is one of the oldest and most basic human behaviour. For some reson some people are feeling they have to make hierarchies, groups, definitions of other people.

In the prehistoric times this might have had some affect on the surviving, as taking precaution by being afraid of the strange was mandatory. The new group of people could have been enemies, they could have brought dicease or parasites with them.

But upon time these predictions became prejudice and caution became anger.

Usually people like this are among with same-minded people, creating a culture of their own. Being a snob - in that sense- does not differ from being a member of a gang or being a member of a religion.

They all behave under the same rules: "we are good, they are not". This is important for the group to stay coherent and keeping up the distancy to others. This is also the way an individual can express into which group he belongs, he is loyal to.

As a gregarious animal humans have an inbuilt need to belong in a pack. Being a snob can satisfy this primitive need.

An advantage in being in a group like this is you get full support from the members of the group. That is a huge benefit, as you can have jobs, find good houses etc. by getting help from the members of your pack. In comparison, people without the help of their pack have to manage life alone. This was a lot more important in historic and prehistoric times, when living alone could mean death.

This is such a basic need and fear that most people prefer to be a part of an unfitting group than alone, even today.