People act to preserve a decent self-image above all

Evidence

Preferring higher-status groups over one’s own (lower-status) ingroup, and self-stereotyping on negative group attributes, are consistent with theories that posit that people justify the existing social structure, even when so doing goes against self-enhancement or group-enhancement concerns (see Jost & Hamilton, ch. 13 this volume). — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 960 (#complicates, via linked claim)

What do people with genuine and durable self-esteem act like? First of all, they are steady; they score high on self-esteem measures over a long span of time. They don’t claim high self-esteem one day and low self-esteem the next. Barring extreme events such as running a red light and killing someone, this overall positive self-view is not easily shaken and does not wildly fluctuate from day to day. Such people accept change as it comes and don’t spend a lot of time comparing themselves to others. When you meet them, they seem to be emotionally calm and fulfilled, confident but humble, often putting themselves in service to others or to a cause. — Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, The Worm at the Core, 259 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: One can defend a public image with no authentic self behind it — Alice E. Marwick, Status Update: Celebrity, Publicity,…, 403; Lower-status workers maintain self-esteem by claiming superiority in non-material goods. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology: Key Readings, 2179; People pursue self-worth through favorable evaluations of their groups — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 1495 (+10 more)

Broader Connections

• People justify the social structure even at the cost of self-enhancement #complicates (0.80) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 960
• Genuine self-esteem is stable, humble, and oriented toward others #complicates (0.76) — Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, The Worm at the Core, 259