Threatened self-esteem drives people to derogate stigmatized groups to feel better

Evidence

More recently, though, social psychologists are again embracing the ideas that (1) stereotypes can be shaped be people’s desires to feel good about themselves and their groups (Yzerbyt & Cornielle, ch. 11 this volume), and (2) people are not always aware of the sources and manifestations of their prejudice (Fiske, ch. 3 this volume; Rudman, ch. 7 this volume). An example of the former is research on the motivated application of stereotypes, which tests whether defending the self affects perceptions of others. For instance, Fein and Spencer (1997) found that people who did not have the opportunity to affirm some positive aspect of their self-concepts following self-image threat were more likely than others to derogate and dislike members of stigmatized groups, which, in turn, boosted their selfesteem (see also Kunda & Sinclair, 1999). — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2376

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to terror management theory and stereotyping as self-esteem repair; also the motivated-application literature echoes the scapegoating dynamics described in earlier chapters of the field’s history. — connects to: Self-esteem operates implicitly through self-serving judgment biases that also buttress the self. — Anthony G. Greenwald and Mahzarin R. Banaji, Implicit Social Cognition: Attitudes,…, 152