History Main / ExpectationLowerer

* ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle: The central family of the series are so absurdly [[DysfunctionalFamily dysfunctional]] that any real family can't help but feel better about themselves after watching. Every member is unbearable in their own way, between shrewish, abusive, harpy mother Lois, [[BumblingDad moronic buffoon father Hal]], impulsive and irresponsible rebellious eldest son Francis, [[InsufferableImbecile idiotic bully]] Reese, InsufferableGenius (who isn't anywhere near as much smarter than the others as he thinks he is) Malcolm, and the downright [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} strange]] Dewey, meaning everyone has someone to relate and feel superior to.

* [[TheAlcoholic Barney Gumble]] from ''Franchise/TheSimpsons'', is meant to be even more of a StrawLoser than Homer is. Subverted in that Barney makes an effort to get clean and sober (although he does fall OffTheWagon every now and again). He's been OutOfFocus in more recent seasons, because, with his recovery efforts, he does not fulfill his Expectation Lowerer role anymore.

* ''Series/TheImbetweeners'' follows the misadventures of four teenage boys who constantly fail at getting laid or being cool. Among their group is a pompous twat who kisses up to all the adults, a short-tempered lad who constantly fails at impressing the girl of his dreams, an idiot whose parents split up because his dad's a homosexual and a sex-crazed compulsive liar.

[[folder:Real Life]]
* Often employed as a tactic by lawyers: "What my client did is not as bad as what these other people are getting away with, so it's not fair to prosecute him for it." Michael Josephson (the head of Josephson Institute of Ethics) refers to this as "the doctrine of relative filth".
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