Collective self‐esteem consequences of outgroup derogation when a valued social identity is on trial

TLDR

The study examines how self‑processes and intergroup comparisons influence collective self‑esteem and outgroup derogation. The authors test whether identification level and collective self‑esteem predict outgroup derogation in identity‑threatening versus non‑threatening contexts. A structural equation model examined how derogation of threat‑relevant and threat‑irrelevant outgroups affected subsequent collective self‑esteem. Under threat, high identification and reduced collective self‑esteem lead to outgroup derogation, and derogating threat‑relevant outgroups raises subsequent self‑esteem while derogating threat‑irrelevant outgroups lowers it; in non‑threat contexts, derogation does not affect self‑esteem.

Abstract

Abstract A structural equation model tested the role of degree of identification with a group (Americans) and level of collective self‐esteem as determinants of outgroup derogation under identity‐threatening and non‐threatening conditions. High identification and reductions in collective self‐esteem following a threat to that identity lead to outgroup derogation, but level of collective self‐esteem did not predict outgroup derogation in the no‐threat condition. The consequences of derogating both threat‐relevant (Russians) and threat‐irrelevant nationalities for subsequent self‐esteem were assessed. As predicted by social identity theory, higher amounts of derogation of the threat‐relevant outgroup in the identity‐threatened condition elevated subsequent collective self‐esteem. Derogation of threat‐irrelevant outgroups did not have this positive esteem consequence; in fact, increased derogation of irrelevant outgroups reduced subsequent self‐esteem. In the no‐threat condition, amount of derogation directed towards either type of outgroup did not significantly influence subsequent self‐esteem, with the overall pattern being opposite to what was observed in the threat condition. Implications for theories concerning self‐processes as instigators of outgroup derogation and the consequences of intergroup comparisons for collective self‐esteem are discussed.