Compensatory Self-Enhancement

Description

Rob Henderson:

"Researchers have found that when people learn that an individual is superior to themselves on some valued quality, their own self-esteem is thwarted.

People then respond by engaging in downward comparisons. They denigrate the threatening individual. After doing this, people report experiencing a boost in their mood.

For example, if someone sees a strikingly attractive person, they might say, “Well, that person is probably an airhead (I’m smarter than him/her).” Or if they see a rich person, they might say, “That person is probably immoral (I’m a better person than him/her).”

Similarity seems to play a role. People who feel threatened after learning someone similar to themselves is better on some quality feel especially good after engaging in downward comparison or denigrating them.

“That guy who is kind of similar to me might be more attractive but, I’ll bet he’s shallow. (There, now I feel better).”

Together, just world belief and compensatory self-enhancement imply that people resist the idea others could have a wide array of advantages and talents.

It just doesn’t seem fair that a rich guy might also be ethical, kind, good-looking, intelligent, and funny."

(https://robkhenderson.substack.com/p/it-would-seem-that-some-socially?)