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Being outperformed in an intergroup context: The relationship between group status and self‐protective strategies
Author(s) -
Redersdorff Sandrine,
Martinot Delphine
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
british journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 2044-8309
pISSN - 0144-6665
DOI - 10.1348/014466608x334771
Subject(s) - psychology , group (periodic table) , context (archaeology) , social psychology , group identification , identification (biology) , self esteem , ingroups and outgroups , paleontology , chemistry , botany , organic chemistry , biology
The present study examines the effects of group status on self‐esteem when individuals are outperformed by an in‐group target (Experiments 1 and 2) or an out‐group (Experiment 2). The main aim was to examine different self‐protective mechanisms when the current standing of the in‐group vis‐à‐vis another group is either unfavourable (low status) or favourable (high status). Experiment 1 showed that when outperformed by an in‐group target, the members of a low status group reported higher self‐esteem than members of a high status group. Moreover, this effect was mediated by group identification. Experiment 2 replicated the previous results and gave rise to similar effects on investment in the group. The perceived relevance of the comparison group appeared to protect the self‐esteem of high status group members. This research demonstrates the mediating role of self‐protection mechanisms such as group identification and the perceived relevance of a comparison group.