PSY1001 WEEK 8 Flashcards
briefly outline social comparison theory and why it is used
make social comparisons when objective standard of comparison are lacking. need to accurately self-evaluate, to reduce uncertainty
when? and with who? are social comparisons carried out
when there is no objective standard or uncertainty about self
who- similar others when we wish to have accurate image of self
explain upward social comparisons and why they can lead to either positive/negative self-evaluations
USC are made to aid self-improvement, provide hope and inspiration
positive self-evaluations allow person to think they can change own status
but USC can highlight deficits, making us feel inadequate so leading to negative SE
explain downward social comparisons and why they can lead to positive or negative self-evaluations
DSC are used to enhance and protect well-being. feeling self-doubt, insecurity or threatened means more likely to make DSC
threatened individual is more likely to compare with others who are worse off, exposure to less fortunate boosts self-wellbeing
some research has raised questions about upward social comparisons. explain why they may actually be more likely in causing positive self-evaluations
intentional comparison to superior other leads to self-views becoming positive as we believe we possess others positive characteristic
some research has raised questions regarding downward social comparisons. explain how individuals may actually make these when happy, not when they are un happy
make when feeling happy, so they are more likely to have higher self-esteem
explain a self-improvement motive in social comparison
if we do an upward social comparison to social target (If only i were like them), this causes self-improvement motives so our target of future behaviour is to improve
explain an affect-improvement motive for social comparisons
if we make a downward social comparison about social target (At least I’m not like them), targets our affect improvement motives causing immediate affective state, feel better
name 5 functions of social comparisons
self-knowledge (reduce uncertainty about, and to understand self)
self-enhancement (DSC boosting wellbeing and maintaining positive sense of self)
self-improvement (USC with superior role model to learn new skills)
social connection (helps to build new social bond)
opinion formation
explain the proxy model of social comparison
compares self to proxy if we perform similarly in past on similar tasks and if they are known to have put in max effort
use this to gain info to anticipate our success
support has been found to show this model is present in physical strength, intellectual problem solving
explain the opinion formation triadic model which differentiates between beliefs and values, stating the 3 types of opinion=
current preferences: personal opinion regarding liking. those sharing similar attributes are seen as relevant and influential
belief evaluation: verifiable facts involved, favours those with experiences
future preferences: knowing proxy’s opinion doesn’t influence own unless they have known similar opinions to self
name 3 variables that affect whether we make social comparisons to evaluate our opinions against others
other’s expertise
similarity with individual
previous agreements with individual
define assimilation in social comparisons
similarity or psychological closeness to comparison target
define contrast in social comparisons
dissimilarity or psychological distance to comparison target
in social comparison, do congruence and incongruence, lead to assimilation or contrast
congruence leads to assimilation
incongruence leads to contrast
