Acute self-esteem threat, unlike chronic low self-esteem, activates stereotypes

Evidence

When people’s self-esteem is specifically threatened – particularly if they have high self-esteem – they increase ingroup favoritism (Crocker, Major, & Steele, 1998). Being insecure or anxious increases stereotyping (Wilder & Shapiro, 1989) and outgroup derogation (Wills, 1981). Self-esteem threat also facilitates the automatic activation of stereotypes (Spencer et al., 1998). However, chronically low self-esteem does not motivate ingroup favoritism (Hewstone et al., 2002). — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 343

Work on the ego-justification function suggests that people engage in stereotyping and prejudice at least in part because it allows them to feel better about themselves by derogating others. This view originated in psychoanalytic theories of the kind Allport favored, including the notion that stereotypes “serve as projection screens for our personal conflict” (1954/1979, p. 200). The more general idea that stereotypes rationalize the individual’s own interests, actions, and psychological needs is also consistent with more recent theories of self-esteem maintenance. Experimental studies demonstrate, for example, that threats to one’s self-esteem stimulate enhanced levels of stereotyping and discrimination (Fein & Spencer, 1997; Oakes & Turner, 1980). — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1395

Work on the ego-justification function suggests that people engage in stereotyping and prejudice at least in part because it allows them to feel better about themselves by derogating others. This view originated in psychoanalytic theories of the kind Allport favored, including the notion that stereotypes “serve as projection screens for our personal conflict” (1954/1979, p. 200). The more general idea that stereotypes rationalize the individual’s own interests, actions, and psychological needs is also consistent with more recent theories of self-esteem maintenance. Experimental studies demonstrate, for example, that threats to one’s self-esteem stimulate enhanced levels of stereotyping and discrimination (Fein & Spencer, 1997; Oakes & Turner, 1980). — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1395

Categorization

• XREF: Experimental evidence that ego threats amplify stereotyping connects to terror-management and system-justification literatures.
• QUESTION: Worth checking whether this ego-justification mechanism sits in tension with system-justification accounts of prejudice.
• corroborated: 5 independent passages support this claim — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 343; John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 1395; , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1395