The Hypersociality Hypothesis: How Social Climbing Drives Elite Incompetence

This article, authored by a long-standing reader and contributor known as "albrt" and published on naked capitalism, introduces the "Hypersociality Hypothesis." It argues that a significant driver of elite incompetence and malfeasance is a behavioral profile characterized by extreme sensitivity to social signals, high ambition, strong coalition-building skills, but weak intellectual curiosity and problem-solving abilities. These individuals rise through organizations by navigating social dynamics rather than through technical competence or deep analysis. The piece explores how this phenomenon can explain apparent elite stupidity without resorting to top-down conspiracy theories, suggesting that systemic dysfunction arises from the wrong people being selected and promoted based on social acumen rather than merit.