Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, Vol 31(3), Jun 2026, 201-223; doi:10.1037/ocp0000433
Performance comparisons are ubiquitous and natural at work and can be potent sources of social stress for employees. Drawing on social comparison and social self-preservation theories, the present research identifies perceived lower performance as a social stressor and investigates a dual mechanism through which individuals with relatively low performance engage in social self-preservation responses. We argue that perceived lower performance is likely to elicit social-evaluative threat, which, contingent on individuals’ growth or fixed mindset, triggers either an upward assimilative or contrastive motive. Upward assimilative motive leads to self-improvement initiatives (i.e., learning from higher performers). Upward contrastive motive leads to self-protection strategies (i.e., withdrawal behavior, performance appraisal accusation). The results of a multitime survey (N = 371), an online experiment (N = 394), and a classroom-based observational study (N = 183) largely provide support for the hypotheses. Insights into theory, practice, and future research are addressed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)