Envied outgroups provoke prejudice precisely because competence implies control over competitive threat.

Evidence

High-status, competitive groups that are seen as competent but not warm should elicit envy and jealousy (along with a grudging admiration for their perceived skills), a response we call envious prejudice. High status represents a positive outcome, and competence implies control over it, so these groups are seen as responsible for their position. The lack of warmth imputed to these groups corresponds to perceived competition and hostile intent. When people’s own controllable, positive outcomes deprive others, those others feel envy. That is, when one person lacks another’s superior outcome but wishes the other lacked it, envy results (Parrott & Smith, 1993). — Susan T. Fiske et al., A Model of (Often Mixed) Stereotype…, 258

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the core mechanism of ‘envious prejudice’ linking competence, control, competition, and hostile intent.
• XREF: Directly serves the reader’s stated purpose — the bridge from competence-as-threatening to scapegoating of powerful minorities. — connects to: Prejudice stems from distinct threat and competition motives — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2492; Perceived competence in envied outgroups fuels resentment-driven prejudice rather than reducing it. — Susan T. Fiske et al., A Model of (Often Mixed) Stereotype…, 302; Perceived group competition can motivate prejudice and discrimination directly. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1509 (+7 more)

Broader Connections

• Perceived competence in envied outgroups fuels resentment-driven prejudice rather than reducing it. #corroborates (0.95) — Susan T. Fiske et al., A Model of (Often Mixed) Stereotype…, 302
• Envious prejudice exaggerates a target group’s power rather than disparaging its competence. #contradicts (0.85) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1587
• Prejudice stems from distinct threat and competition motives #expands (0.80) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2492
• Perceived resource scarcity combined with a competitive outgroup triggers instrumental prejudice. #exemplifies (0.80) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1489
• Group competition breeds prejudice while cooperative interdependence reduces bias #qualifies (0.78) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1483
• The desire to control, not hatred, drives dominant groups’ discrimination #expands (0.78) — Cristian Tileagă, The Nature of Prejudice, 141
• Perceived group competition can motivate prejudice and discrimination directly. #qualifies (0.75) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1509
• Different prejudice types target different outgroups for distinct reasons. #expands (0.75)
• Threat can redirect hostility toward unrelated weaker outgroups #complicates (0.75) — Walter G. Stephan, Oscar Ybarra, Kimberly Rios Morrison, Intergroup Threat Theory, 20
• Prejudice propagates when privileged groups stand to gain from exploiting minorities #expands (0.72) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1480