frog-pond effect
the tendency of high-performing individuals in a generally inferior group to evaluate themselves more favorably than do low-performing individuals in a generally superior group. Originally used to describe academic self-evaluations, the term has recently been broadened to refer to any appraisals that compare the self with local, as opposed to more general, standards. For example, a person might take particular pride in considering himself the best player on his office softball team of colleagues who are mediocre players. Yet the worst performer on an Olympic softball team might feel incompetent, even though he is among the best softball players in the world. See self-concept; social comparison theory. [term derived from the common phrase, big fish in a small pond]