Self-esteem is more often threatened when a person receives help from someone who is similar to them rather than dissimilar.

According to social comparison theory, people tend to compare themselves to those who are similar to them in order to evaluate their own abilities and self-worth. Therefore, if someone similar to them offers help or performs better, it can lead to a threat to their self-esteem. On the other hand, if someone dissimilar offers help, it may not impact their self-esteem as much because the comparison is not as relevant.