Private gain, social strain: do relationship factors shape responses to outperformance?

Outperforming others can be satisfying, in part because it allows us to mak e self-enhancing social comparisons against those we have surpassed. Howeve r competitive success can clash with relational goals, leading outperformer s to experience discomfort when they believe that their superior status pos es a threat to the outperformed person (Exline & Lobel, 1999). Two studies revealed that relationship factors play a critical role in responses to sup erior status. Relationship rifts and avoidance were common in conflictual o r hostile relationships, whereas empathic concerns and appeasement predomin ated in closer more satisfying relationships. Negative responses to superio r status were largely, independent of private feelings of pride and happine ss. These data complement existing social comparison research by suggesting that outperformance, while privately satisfying, can cause problems when i t poses an interpersonal threat. Furthermore, relationship factors appear t o be important determinants of the specific emotional and behavioral respon ses of outperformers. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley, & Sons, Ltd.