The effects of in-group versus out-group social comparison on self-esteem in the context of a negative stereotype

Upward comparison with members of an in-group can be both enhancing and threat-ening to self-esteem (Brewer & Weber, 1994). According to Tesser’s (1986, 1988) self-evaluation maintenance model (SEM), the superior performance of in-group members should be threatening when comparisons are made on ability domains that are relevant to self-esteem. We argue that such comparisons will instead be enhancing if the superior other’s performance challenges negative ability stereotypes about the group. In a labora-tory experimental study, 60 African American female participants were given feedback on a bogus IQ test under conditions designed to increase the salience of negative stereotypes. Participants were then exposed to either upward or downward social comparison infor-This research was supported by NIMH postdoctoral training Grant 1 F32 MH11438-02. Jennifer Crocker was supported by NSF Grant SBR 9596226 when this research was conducted and by NIMH Grant 1 R01 MH58869-01 during preparation of this manuscript. The authors thank Charlene Christie, Tonya Dodge, and Anne E. Stuart for comments on earlier drafts. Thanks especially t