Self-worth can be protected by shifting evaluative standards from outgroups to the ingroup.

Evidence

Self-protective and self-enhancing motives converge when self-enhancement operates in a threatening context. This can happen in two ways. First, it can occur by altering the negative elements of a threatening environment so that one’s personal sense of security is enhanced. For example, creating microcontexts in which one feels comfortable is one way to enable self-enhancing motives to be served (see Tatum, 2002). By creating a nonthreatening environment within a threatening one, a greater degree of comfort follows when self-defining values are a standard for self-judgment and freedom of self-expression adheres to core individual or collective principles. Second, one may align with others in the group to alter the values attached to certain behaviors so that self-worth is not based on matching an “other-group standard” but depends upon embracing an “ingroup criterion” ( Jones, 1999). — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1086

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to social identity theory and Tajfel’s ingroup preference research, plus the standing work on self-esteem maintenance strategies.