5) Social Comparison

Question 1

Social Comparison

Answer 1

Fundamental human tendency to look to others for information about how to think, feel, and behave

has provided us with the ability to thrive in a highly complex and interconnected modern social world.

Question 2

Social Comparison and Cultural Dimensions

Answer 2

Two prominent cultural dimensions uniquely explain variation in social-comparison proclivity across individuals, situations, and cultures

1) Tight (/loose) cultures: Demand attention to norms. SC provides information on how to behave.
2) Collectivistic (/indiv.) Promote self-construal in relation to others

Question 3

Tightness - Looseness

Answer 3

The degree to which behavior is regulated and sanctioned

• The neural system of the respective inhabitants is sensitized to detecting norm violations.

Question 4

Collectivism

Answer 4

Self is construed interdependent and fitting into a group valued, –> creating strong in-groups

Question 5

How does the striatum react to social/private gains/losses?

Answer 5

• Higher activity for relative gain than losses
• Higher reactivity in social condition compare to private:
• stronger deactivation in social losses (
• stronger activation in social gains

Question 6

What other bodily respones to private social gains are there?

Answer 6

1. mPFC: Activity to social gains greater than all other events
2. Skin conductance shows a greater response in social conditions

Question 7

Individualistic

Answer 7

2. Individualistic:

Value strong independent self-construals and standing out as an individual

Question 8

Brain activity in outcome valuation?

Answer 8

Striatum:

• Activity related to valence of outcome
• Larger activity for gains
• Larger activity and deactivation for social conditions

mPFC:
- Activity for social gains larger than for all other events

SCR

—> Activity in the choice period also larger in social context

Question 9

How was the brain activity for the influence of social comparison in DM measured?

Answer 9

Lottery task in fMRI.
private and social choice
Same and different lottery

Question 10

Situational Strength

Answer 10

Tightness and looseness manifest in everyday situations:

- Set the behavioural restrictions in a situation and the degree to which it is monitored

Question 11

Social Comparison Emotions

Answer 11

Arise when comparing to another person and include guilt, envy..