Stigmatized groups may base self-worth on noncomparative, noncontingent criteria

Evidence

Self-enhancement is commonly considered to be a social comparison process, but I believe future research should explore noncomparative forms of self-enhancement. For example, spirituality may confer positive self-regard in ways that are internally motivated and do not depend on relative worth. It is possible that social comparative mechanisms are rejected by stigmatized groups to avoid unfavorable outcomes in a system of reward allocation biased against them. Crocker and colleagues have already suggested as much and shown that Blacks are more inclined to base self-worth on noncontingent criteria than Whites are (Crocker & Wolfe, 2001). — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1102

Categorization

• QUESTION: Worth chasing: what exactly are the noncontingent criteria Blacks use more than Whites, and what is the mechanism by which comparative self-worth is rejected?
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1102
• XREF: connects to: Metrics become socially interpreted measures of personal self-worth — Alice E. Marwick, Status Update: Celebrity, Publicity,…, 217; Groups can gain status by persuading society to value their own criteria — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 304