I haven’t kept careful stock of my impressions on this matter, but while I don’t recall noticing any high caliber mathematicians positively signaling status, I don’t recall noticing high caliber scientists in other fields doing it either. I’m skeptical that this is a principle that applies particularly to mathematicians, rather than to highly esteemed researchers in general.
I think countersignaling is a pretty strong explanation here. When everyone already knows that you’re a thinker of great prestige, you stand to gain more status by signaling that you’re also humble about it than reminding people of how exceptional you are.
I would predict, and it’s my impression that this is the case, that you would be more likely to find high profile figures positively signaling their status in factioned fields. When you’re not the discoverer of some universally accepted principle or data, but merely the champion of some particular interpretation or school of thought, then you stand to gain by signaling how smart and right you are.
I haven’t kept careful stock of my impressions on this matter, but while I don’t recall noticing any high caliber mathematicians positively signaling status, I don’t recall noticing high caliber scientists in other fields doing it either. I’m skeptical that this is a principle that applies particularly to mathematicians, rather than to highly esteemed researchers in general.
I think countersignaling is a pretty strong explanation here. When everyone already knows that you’re a thinker of great prestige, you stand to gain more status by signaling that you’re also humble about it than reminding people of how exceptional you are.
I would predict, and it’s my impression that this is the case, that you would be more likely to find high profile figures positively signaling their status in factioned fields. When you’re not the discoverer of some universally accepted principle or data, but merely the champion of some particular interpretation or school of thought, then you stand to gain by signaling how smart and right you are.