Social comparison bias
The tendency to feel dislike or competitiveness toward people who seem better than us in some way, which can lead us to hold them back. It often shows up in hiring and promotion decisions.
In everyday life
A manager passes on a brilliant job candidate who might outshine her and picks someone less threatening instead.
When a talented new colleague joins your team, you find yourself pointing out her small errors in meetings and quietly leaving her off a big project you lead.
Why your mind does this
Keeping our freedom to choose and our standing in a group protects us from being exploited or pushed out. Sticking with what already works, and avoiding choices we can't undo, limits the damage of a bad call. These habits likely helped people get by in small groups, where losing status or making a costly mistake could be serious.
Its family, in 30 seconds: Autonomy & status
How to spot it
Notice when someone's strengths make you want to hunt for their flaws.
How to counter it
Use a written list of criteria when judging others, and ask a neutral colleague to score them too.
Same family: Autonomy & status
- System justification
- Reverse psychology
- Reactance
- Decoy effect
- Social comparison bias
- Status quo bias