Social Comparisons Flashcards
Social comparison theory
FESTINGER (1954)
Humans rely on social comparisons to evaluate abilities and opinions when objective
standards of comparison are lacking
Need to have stable and accurate appraisals of themselves- accurately self-evaluate= uncertainty reduction
Helps us to know ourselves better, facilitates connecting with others
2 key questions of SCT
FESTINGER (1954)
When do we engage in social comparisons?
-when there is no objective standard to use as measure, or experience uncertainty about ourselves
With whom do we choose to compare ourselves?
-similar others= accurate image
Upward social comparisons
Comparing ourselves to those better than us
Highlight areas for self-improvement
Provide hope/ inspiration
Ones status can be changed
Can highlight deficits- feel inadequate= negative self-evaluations
Downward social comparisons
Comparing ourselves to those worse than we are
Enhance and protect well being- highlighting how better off we are
Those feeling threatened are more likely to make downward
Functions of social comparison
1. Self-knowledge
Provides target source of comparisons to evaluate ourselves and reduce any feelings of uncertainty
Proxy model of social comparisons:
-when evaluating potential success, most interested in comparing oneself to someone who performed similarly
Functions of social comparisons
2. Self-enhancement
Compare ourselves to those worse off- boosts well being- maintains positive sense of self
In cases where we have low self-esteem/ feeling threatened
Upward assimilation theory:
-self-evaluation contrasted upward to comparison target when high perceived similarity
Functions of social comparisons
3. Self-improvement
Compare themselves to learn new skill or improve performance
Upward social comparisons- target provides example
Social learning theories:
-people look for models to learn important skills
Functions of social comparisons
4. Social connection
Serve individual and sense of self
Support social coordination- building intimate connections with others
Comparisons of experiences with others builds social bonds among new friends
Solidify connections among close others
Eating behaviours
POLIVY (2017)
Eating with others= extremely sensitive to what others eat
Implied consequence:
- affects how much we like our own meal and how much we eat
- affect how we feel about co-eater and ourselves
Evolutionary- eating less= weaker= lower social status
Weight related behaviours
RANCOURT ET AL (2015)
Daily diary study- overweight women
Reported whether eight was better, worse or same
Recorded thoughts about exercise and dieting
Upward social comparisons associated with greater number of thoughts about dieting and exercising
Race/ethnicity
RANCOURT ET AL (2016)
UDACS
Asian and white women= downward social comparisons positively associated with body satisfaction
Latina/Hispanic= downward social comparisons positively associated with disordered eating
Subliminal social comparisons
CHATARD ET AL (2017)
Proposed to be automatic
Ideal thin model, average model and no model
Those subliminally presented with thin ideal model reported greater body appearance anxiety
Social media
APPEL ET AL (2016)
Positive correlation between amounts of Facebook use and frequency of social comparisons
Social media
VOGEL ET AL (2014)
Fictitious social media profiles varied in terms of whether info was upward/downward
Larger actual-ideal self-discrepancies following exposure to upward
= can be detremental
Likes as social reward
DVASH ET AL (2010)
Pairs of self-selfies and other selfies, likes above and below average
After downward social comparison- more schadenfreude and superiority (contrastive)
-more joyful and less pleased by how things turned out for the other (assimilative)
