New Study Reveals: Sharing Credit Can Boost Your Own Success

Why People Who Give Credit Gain More Respect?

A new study has found that people who are unsure about their social standing often make a big mistake—they hesitate to give credit to others. But instead of helping them, this habit actually makes them lose respect and admiration over time.

The research, called The Vicious Cycle of Status Insecurity, looks at why some people struggle with self-doubt about their status. These individuals often believe that status is a limited resource—if someone else gains recognition, they assume their own importance decreases.

Because of this belief, they are less likely to acknowledge the achievements of others. They fear that sharing credit will weaken their position, but the study shows that the opposite is true.

Giving Credit Can Actually Raise Your Own Status

The research team conducted 17 different studies to explore this behavior in real-life situations. They examined:

1. Personal experiences from people who felt insecure about their status.
2. Reality TV speeches from Survivor contestants to see how their final words affected their social standing.
3. Business competitions and workplace experiments to test how sharing or withholding credit impacts success.

The results were clear: people who openly recognize others are seen as more respected and confident, while those who avoid praising seem insecure and actually lose status over time.

How to Break the Cycle and Gain More Respect

The good news? The study suggests a simple way to boost your status—celebrate and appreciate others. Here’s how you can apply this in daily life:

1. Say “thank you” more often – Acknowledge people for their help, even in small ways.
2. Praise in public – Whether in a work meeting or social setting, recognizing others shows confidence.
3. Support your colleagues and friends – Encouraging others makes you look like a strong leader.

This study challenges the idea that status is a competition. Instead, it shows that when we share recognition, we all rise together.

So, if you want to gain more respect and admiration, start by lifting others up. It turns out that giving praise doesn’t take anything away from you—it actually makes you look better.

Source: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2025-49987-001