Exam 2: Social Comparison Theory

Question 1

Social Comparison Theory

Answer 1

• Another way we come to know ourselves

- By comparing ourselves to other people

Question 2

Theory Assumptions (SC Theory)

Answer 2

• Drive to do well exists to evaluate our opinions and abilities
• We compare ourselves to others when we are uncertain about our opinions or abilities
• Prefer to compare to objective standard
• If no standard exists, we compare ourselves to others
• More important the opinions & abilities = greater drive to succeed

Question 3

With Whom Do We Compare? (SC Theory)

Answer 3

• Depends on goal…
  a. Self-evaluation: with similar others, no threat to self-esteem
  b. Self-improvement: with better others (upward comparison)
  c. Self-enhancement: with worse others (downward comparison), to feel better about ourselves, threat to self-esteem

Question 4

Downward Comparison Theory (Self-Enhancement, SC Theory)

Answer 4

• Evoked by threat
• High self-esteemed people engage in this
• 2 self-motivations: drive for consistency (world makes sense), drive for favorability (positive view of self)

Question 5

Self-Evaluation Maintenance Theory (SC Theory)

Answer 5

• Aim to keep oneself feeling good psychologically throughout a comparison process to others
• Self reflection: benefits from achievements or positive qualities of others with whom one is linked
• Comparison: enhance self-esteem by performing better than others

Question 6

3 Factors: Determine If Comparison Threatens Self-Esteem (SEM Theory, SC Theory)

Answer 6

• Performance: relative to other (better or worse than you)
• Closeness: linkage between you and other
• Relevance: important to self-concept (threat to self-esteem)
• Close to others who succeed on irrelevant tasks: bask in glory
• Close to others who succeed on relevant tasks: threat to self-esteem
• Reduce threat by improving performance, distancing self from other, or deciding task is not important to self