Threatened self-worth increases outgroup derogation, which then restores self-esteem

Evidence

Research confirms that people change the way they perceive an outgroup member when their self-worth has been challenged in an otherwise unrelated episode. Indeed, Fein and Spencer (1997) found that compared to people who initially receive positive feedback about their intelligence, those who learn that they have failed a test express more derogatory judgments when the feedback provider is Jewish (a stigmatized category) than when she is not. Moreover, the more the threatened individuals derogate the Jewish candidate, the better they feel afterwards. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1173

Research confirms that people change the way they perceive an outgroup member when their self-worth has been challenged in an otherwise unrelated episode. Indeed, Fein and Spencer (1997) found that compared to people who initially receive positive feedback about their intelligence, those who learn that they have failed a test express more derogatory judgments when the feedback provider is Jewish (a stigmatized category) than when she is not. Moreover, the more the threatened individuals derogate the Jewish candidate, the better they feel afterwards. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1173

Categorization

• SEED: Article angle: prejudice as an emotional self-regulation tool — how derogating others functions as a psychological analgesic after ego blows.
• XREF: The ‘derogating makes you feel better’ finding parallels scapegoating and prestige/reputation dynamics familiar from institutional theory readings. — connects to: Cognitive dissonance resolves primarily to protect self-worth, not truth — Lee McIntyre, Post-Truth, 86; 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; Basking in reflected glory and downward comparison are complementary affiliation strategies for self-esteem. — Anthony G. Greenwald and Mahzarin R. Banaji, Implicit Social Cognition: Attitudes,…, 161 (+1 more)
• corroborated: 4 independent passages support this claim — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 1173; , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1173