PSYC2061

Social Psychology

Dr. Williams

Social Comparison


 

Why do we compare ourselves with others?

• We come to know ourselves by comparing ourselves to other people.

• We compare ourselves to others to learn about our feelings, traits, and abilities.

• According to Leon Festingerâs (1954) social comparison theory, we have a need to evaluate our opinions and abilities, to figure out our strengths and weaknesses, in order to have an accurate view of ourselves.

Why donât we use objective criteria?

• We will use objective criteria, when available.

  • How tall am I?; How much do I weigh?; How fast did I run?

• But, there are many things about ourselves that donât have objective criteria or measurements.

  • How attractive am I? How good of a cello player am I? Do I weigh too much? How empathic am I? How conservative are my political opinions? How smart am I?

Two Important Questions

• When do we engage in social comparison?

• With whom do we choose to compare ourselves?

When do we engage in social comparison?

• We are more likely to engage in social comparison when

  • there are no objective standard to measure our attitudes and skills
  • we are uncertain about ourselves in a particular domain.

• Example:

  • Suls & Fletcher (1983). Natural science publications authors thank fewer people than do social sciences authors.
    • Physicists & Chemists: 0.5; Psychologists: 1.2; Sociologists: 2.0. Why?

With whom do we socially compare?

• Festinger (1954) -- With others who are more similar to us on the relevant dimension.

• Gilbert et al (1995). We initially compare ourselves to everyone.

  • After quick assessment of how our performance compares to that of othersâ, we then decide how appropriate that comparison is
  • Appropriate = similar on attribute or dimension

Other reasons for social comparison

• To motivate ourselves

• To feel better about ourselves

For these reasons, we sometimes make different sorts of comparisons

• Upward comparisons

  • more likely to motivate us to achieve more

• Downward comparisons

  • more likely to make us feel better about ourselves
    • contrast principle, relative deprivation

Wheelerâs work on event-contingent diaries of social comparisons

• Looks at social comparisons outside the laboratory, during everyday life.

• Examines questions such as:

  • How often do we make social comparisons?
  • With whom do we make them?
  • How do they make us feel?

Rochester Social Comparison Record

• Through what mode did you socially compare?

  • social interaction, visual, telephone, brief contact, daythought

• On what dimension did you socially compare?

  • academic matter, personality, abilities, life style, social skills, physical appearance, wealth

• With whom did you compare?

  • Close friend, ordinary friend, acquaintance, stranger, imaginary person, family member, oneself, famous person.

Rochester Social Comparison Record

• Target sex

  • female, male, unknown

• Similarity (Comparison dimension)

  • inferior <-> similar <-> superior

• Feeling?

  • Just before comparison
  • Just after comparison
    • happy <-> depressed
    • discouraged <-> encouraged

Social comparison applied to groups

• Within groups, we compare ourselves to others to establish status within groups

  • This explains why status hierarchies emerge so readily in groups

• Not only do we compare ourselves to others, but we compare our groups to other groups

• Also make upward and downward group social comparisons

Summary

• We make social comparisons when we are:

  • uncertain about our opinions and abilities
  • we desire validation (information-seeking)

• We choose to compare with:

  • others similar to us on dimension

• But, we also socially compare:

  • to make ourselves feel better
    • in which case, we choose to compare downward
  • to motivate us
    • in which case, we engage in upward comparisons

• Groups do it too