Attitudes towards high achievers in public life: Attributions, deservingness, personality, and affect

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Abstract
This study investigated subjects' attitudes towards nine vary prominent Australian public figures from the three domains of politics, sport, and entertainment. Results from a large sample of University students (N = 377) showed that subjects were more pleased about the success of the high achievers and more sorry, less pleased, and more disturbed about a hypothetical fall from their high positions. when the high achievement was attributed to internal causes, when it was seen to be deserved, and when the high achievers were judged to possess positive rather than negative personality charecteristics. High achievers were seen to deserve their high position more when their success was attributed more to internal causes and less to external assistance and when they were judged favourably as persons. Subject reported feeling more sorry, less pleased, and more disturbed about a hypothetical fall for which the high achievers were not responsible. Reviews results involving tall poppy attitudes, global self‐esteem, and political preference were replicated, and validation evidence was provided for a scale designed to assess attitudes towards high achievers (“tall poppies”) in general.

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