Relative deprivation and gratification elicit prejudice: research on the V-curve hypothesis

• Social comparison can reveal that one is relatively deprived or gratified.
• Individual relative deprivation predicts individual-level outcomes (health problems).
• Collective relative deprivation predicts group-level outcomes (prejudice).
• Relative gratification also elicits prejudice, supporting the V-curve hypothesis.
• Fear about future wealth is a mediator explaining the V-curve pattern.

We review research related to the role of social comparison in intergroup relations focusing on the effect of collective relative deprivation (when we are worse off than them) and relative gratification (when we are better off than them). As predicted by the V-curve model, there is increasing evidence to suggest that being worse-off than others (RD) and being better-off (RG) trigger similar consequences: an increase in intergroup prejudice and hostility. Group identification and pride as well as fear about future wealth are among the factors that are presently considered to account for these findings. A social-psychological analysis of group inequality that considers both deprivation and privilege can bring a renewed understanding of numerous social problems.