This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Major, B. Articles by Crocker, J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Major, B. Articles by Crocker, J. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

In-Group Versus Out-Group Comparisons and Self-Esteem

State University of New York at Buffalo

Anne Marie Sciacchitano

State University of New York at Buffalo

Jennifer Crocker

State University of New York at Buffalo

This study tested the hypothesis that group status of comparison other (ingroup vs. outgroup) and direcion of compassion (upward vs. downward) interact to affect comparers' self-evaluations and affective reactions. As predicted, individuals who compared unfavorably with in-group members reported lower selfsteem and more depressed affect and made lower ability attributions than individuals who compared unfavorably with out-group members. Furthmore, those who compared unfavorably with out-group members reported levels of self-steem and depressed affect comparable to those who compared favorably with others. Group membership of comparison other did not moderate reactions to downward comparisons. Results are discussed in terms of the self-protective nature of social comparisons.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. J. Parks-Stamm, M. E. Heilman, and K. A. Hearns Motivated to Penalize: Women's Strategic Rejection of Successful Women Pers Soc Psychol Bull, February 1, 2008; 34(2): 237 - 247. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. M. Santuzzi Perceptions and Metaperceptions of Negative Evaluation: Group Composition and Meta-Accuracy in a Social Relations Model Group Processes Intergroup Relations, July 1, 2007; 10(3): 383 - 398. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. M. Goldman, B. A. Gutek, J. H. Stein, and K. Lewis Employment Discrimination in Organizations: Antecedents and Consequences Journal of Management, December 1, 2006; 32(6): 786 - 830. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F. J Zimmerman and J. F Bell Income inequality and physical and mental health: testing associations consistent with proposed causal pathways. J. Epidemiol. Community Health, June 1, 2006; 60(6): 513 - 521. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. S. Fielding, M. A. Hogg, and N. Annandale Reactions to Positive Deviance: Social Identity and Attribution Dimensions Group Processes Intergroup Relations, April 1, 2006; 9(2): 199 - 218. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. Martinot, S. Redersdorff, S. Guimond, and S. Dif Ingroup Versus Outgroup Comparisons and Self-Esteem: The Role of Group Status and Ingroup Identification Pers Soc Psychol Bull, November 1, 2002; 28(11): 1586 - 1600. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. M. Marx and J. S. Roman Female Role Models: Protecting Women's Math Test Performance Pers Soc Psychol Bull, September 1, 2002; 28(9): 1183 - 1193. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. R. Norton, M. A. P. Stephens, L. M. Martire, A. L. Townsend, and A. Gupta Change in the Centrality of Women's Multiple Roles: Effects of Role Stress and Rewards J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., January 1, 2002; 57(1): S52 - 62. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Freeman Linking Self and Social Structure: A Psychological Perspective on Social Identity in Sri Lanka Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, May 1, 2001; 32(3): 291 - 308. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. Valk Ethnic Identity, Ethnic Attitudes, Self-Esteem, and Esteem toward Others among Estonian and Russian Adolescents Journal of Adolescent Research, November 1, 2000; 15(6): 637 - 651. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. M. Ruggiero, J. Steele, A. Hwang, and D. M. Marx "Why Did I Get a 'D'?" The Effects of Social Comparisons on Women's Attributions to Discrimination Pers Soc Psychol Bull, November 1, 2000; 26(10): 1271 - 1283. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. Sinclair and Z. Kunda Motivated Stereotyping of Women: She's Fine if She Praised Me but Incompetent if She Criticized Me Pers Soc Psychol Bull, November 1, 2000; 26(11): 1329 - 1342. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. J. Lennon, A. Lillethun, and S. S. Buckland Attitudes toward Social Comparison as a Function of Self-Esteem: Idealized Appearance and Body Image Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, June 1, 1999; 27(4): 379 - 405. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Rubin and M. Hewstone Social Identity Theory's Self-Esteem Hypothesis: A Review and Some Suggestions for Clarification Personality and Social Psychology Review, February 1, 1998; 2(1): 40 - 62. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. A. Kulik and B. B. Gump Affective Reactions to Social Comparison: The Effects of Relative Performance and Related Attributes Information about Another Person Pers Soc Psychol Bull, May 1, 1997; 23(5): 452 - 468. [Abstract]