Results of three studies suggest that the multifaceted nature of identity p
rovides a strategic basis for reducing the threat involved in upward social
comparisons. After performing worse than a comparison standard, people may
strategically emphasize aspects of their identity that differentiate them
from the standard, thereby making the standard less relevant for self-evalu
ation. On the basis of previous research showing that persons low in self-e
steem are less likely to make effective use of self-protection strategics,
we hypothesized that this strategy of deflecting the threat involved in upw
ard comparison (i.e., decreasing perceived comparability by emphasizing an
unshared social identity) would be used primarily by persons who are charac
teristically high in self-esteem. This pattern was confirmed in three studi
es. Moreover, use of the strategy was associated with relatively more posit
ive affect following threatening upward comparisons.