Lower-status workers maintain self-esteem by claiming superiority in non-material goods.

Evidence

When comparing their status with those lower on the scale, however each man may define it, it is easy to point with pride to achievement, material well-being, standing in the community. But satisfaction with one’s self and one’s friends depends on seeing some advantage in one’s situation vis-a-vis those who live and work on a higher status level. At first, this seems to be a difficult task, but in many simple ways it can be easily done. Our sample, for example, found ways of ascribing greater happiness, power, and even income to the working class than would be found in the upper class. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2179

Categorization

• XREF: Directly anticipates social identity theory’s compensatory mechanisms and system justification — the exact integrative ground the reader is mapping for strategic essentialism. — connects to: Subordinates’ positive self-stereotypes can reinforce the status quo. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology: Key Readings, 2904; People act to preserve a decent self-image above all; Downward and intraclass comparisons protect the self-esteem of low-status groups (+5 more)
• SEED: Angle: ‘envy management’ — how the powerless redistribute happiness, power and virtue down the hierarchy to keep the ladder tolerable, a resource for the strategic-essentialism piece on why subordinated identities so often claim moral-felt superiority.

Broader Connections

• Subordinates’ positive self-stereotypes can reinforce the status quo. #expands (0.85) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2904
• Downward and intraclass comparisons protect the self-esteem of low-status groups #expands (0.85)
• Attributing disadvantage to structural causes rather than personal character protects self-esteem. #expands (0.85) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1070
• Self-respect can outweigh substantial material gain #corroborates (0.82) — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 223
• People act to preserve a decent self-image above all #expands (0.78)
• Workers derive a sense of power from believing their class is the numerical majority. #expands (0.78) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2186
• People pursue self-worth through favorable evaluations of their groups #expands (0.75) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1495
• Workers derive status from their power to disrupt and survive the economy #expands (0.75)