Despite popular belief, shit tests are about social ranking and incomplete information.

Imagine you are in the army, but all the ranks are hidden. Then someone comes to you and issues orders. What do you do? Is he high ranking, is he low ranking? Can he even issue orders to you?

The same is true about shit tests in the day to day social game. When a girl tests you, it is akin to the situation above. If you "just" follow orders, then you confirm you are lower rank than her. If you don't follow orders however... then it is not enough, you need to showcase you have the backing (power, status, etc.) to do otherwise.

That is why passing her tests is twofold. One is dealing it moment to moment (eg. ignore it, or agree and amplify). Second is being in a position to do so. For example, would you treat your boss as if he/she was testing you in a similar situation?

Hence, passing the test, also follows negotiation rules. You need to be offering something to the interaction as leverage for you passing it! That is why the basis of all game is value giving, which itself confirms a high social ranking (by being in position to value give in the first place).

Hence, tests are about power and status under incomplete information. This is a summary of the hidden boundary theory of social games.