Basking in reflected glory and downward comparison are complementary affiliation strategies for self-esteem.

Evidence

Basking in reflected glory (Cialdini et al., 1976) is perceiving a positive association with (and presumably admiring) a fortunate or successful other, whereas results characterized as showing downward comparison (Suls, 1991; Wills, 1981) involve distancing oneself from and being critical of a disadvantaged, unsuccessful, or unfortunate other. — Anthony G. Greenwald and Mahzarin R. Banaji, Implicit Social Cognition, 161

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Self-esteem rises from joining the positively valued and distancing from the negatively valued. — Anthony G. Greenwald and Mahzarin R. Banaji, Implicit Social Cognition: Attitudes,…, 157; Affiliation and rejection behaviors function as second-order boosts to self-esteem. — Anthony G. Greenwald and Mahzarin R. Banaji, Implicit Social Cognition: Attitudes,…, 162; Discriminating against out-groups directly raises self-esteem — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2734 (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• Self-esteem rises from joining the positively valued and distancing from the negatively valued. #expands (0.85) — Anthony G. Greenwald and Mahzarin R. Banaji, Implicit Social Cognition, 157
• Threatened self-worth increases outgroup derogation, which then restores self-esteem #corroborates (0.85) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1173
• Downward and intraclass comparisons protect the self-esteem of low-status groups #exemplifies (0.84)
• Discriminating against out-groups directly raises self-esteem #exemplifies (0.82) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2734
• Self-esteem protection may come from combined inward- and outward-directed defenses #corroborates (0.79) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1099
• Affiliation and rejection behaviors function as second-order boosts to self-esteem. #expands (0.78) — Anthony G. Greenwald and Mahzarin R. Banaji, Implicit Social Cognition, 162
• The drive for positive self-identity fuels favorable ingroup comparisons #corroborates (0.76) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 546
• Similarity-attraction functions as an implicit shield for self-esteem #exemplifies (0.75) — Anthony G. Greenwald and Mahzarin R. Banaji, Implicit Social Cognition, 165
• A consensual status system can paradoxically protect group self-esteem from comparison #complicates (0.73)