Article2007

Perceived discrimination as worldview threat or worldview confirmation: Implications for self-esteem.

Brenda Major · Cheryl R. Kaiser · Laurie T. O’Brien · Shannon K. McCoy

321 citations0/0 files storedJournal of Personality and Social Psychology

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Social and Intergroup Psychology Racial and Ethnic Identity Research Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion

Abstract

In 3 studies, the authors tested the hypothesis that discrimination targets' worldview moderates the impact of perceived discrimination on self-esteem among devalued groups. In Study 1, perceiving discrimination against the ingroup was negatively associated with self-esteem among Latino Americans who endorsed a meritocracy worldview (e.g., believed that individuals of any group can get ahead in America and that success stems from hard work) but was positively associated with self-esteem among those who rejected this worldview. Study 2 showed that exposure to discrimination against their ingroup (vs. a non-self-relevant group) led to lower self-esteem, greater feelings of personal vulnerability, and ingroup blame among Latino Americans who endorsed a meritocracy worldview but to higher self-esteem and decreased ingroup blame among Latino Americans who rejected it. Study 3 showed that compared with women informed that prejudice against their ingroup is pervasive, women informed that prejudice against their ingroup is rare had higher self-esteem if they endorsed a meritocracy worldview but lower self-esteem if they rejected this worldview. Findings support the idea that perceiving discrimination against one's ingroup threatens the worldview of individuals who believe that status in society is earned but confirms the worldview of individuals who do not.

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References

2013Stress: Appraisal and Coping 1969Attachment and Loss 1954Nature of Prejudice 2004The Social Identity Theory of Intergroup Behavior 1969The Handbook of Social Psychology 1986Psychology of intergroup relations 1988Illusion and well-being: A social psychological perspective on mental health.2013Handbook of Social Psychology

Cited by

2014Allies against Sexism: The Role of Men in Confronting Sexism 2017Racial Discrimination and Health Outcomes Among Racial/Ethnic Minorities: A Meta‐Analytic Review 2011Coalition or derogation? How perceived discrimination influences intraminority intergroup relations.2011The merit of meritocracy.2017Solidarity through shared disadvantage: Highlighting shared experiences of discrimination improves relations between stigmatized groups.2015Members of high-status groups are threatened by pro-diversity organizational messages 2017Impostor feelings as a moderator and mediator of the relationship between perceived discrimination and mental health among racial/ethnic minority college students.

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