For over 95% of our history, humans have interacted and thrived in “small scale societies.” Within these groups, leadership tends to be less formal and institutionalized and more egalitarian (Von Reuden, Van Vugt). However, our modern day world is more accustomed to functioning in “large scale societies,” in which leadership tends to be very structured and civil. There are different attributes to leaders in both societies that affect their status and power over their followers. One of these attributes includes physical build. According to the reading, success in combat and physical warfare contributes to leader emergence in SSSs. The members of these communities who tend to thrive in battle are taller and stronger men. Physical strength also has the ability to indicate strength in hunting and gathering. Therefore, in societies that are ridden with war and also rely on hunting and gathering, men who have these physical attributes are favored for a leadership position. Our history of living in SSSs has led to the automatic desire for physically strong and built leaders in LSSs. While physical cues should be rather irrelevant when choosing leaders in business and politics, people in our modern day world more often than not show preference to tall, strong and masculine leaders.

While the same physical attributes signal leadership in both SSSs and LSSs, personality traits tend to differ among the leaders of these different sized societies. Within SSSs, it seems that citizens are more aware and in closer relation to their leaders, therefore have a better idea of how they act and live. This causes their leaders to be more generous, trustworthy, and fair. Obvious signs of humility are also helpful in gaining leadership in an SSS. Trade and interaction among not only members of the society but with other societies nearby is an integral piece of thriving as a group. A leader who has the ability to be understanding and open with both other communities and its citizens will have an easier time succeeding in a SSS. However, in LSSs, it has shown that individuals who are increasingly narcissistic and over-confident are generally chosen as leaders. While these personality traits may not be favorable to a group overall, people with these characteristics are often “persuasive, charming and sociable,” increasing their pull among followers. These individuals tend to thrive because they are able to take over leadership positions before any newcomers or agreeable members of the society because these citizens may not want any conflict and therefore will not argue as to why they may serve as a more favorable leader.