Tutorial 7 - Article 2 - Social comparison affects reward-related brain activity

Question 1

What is the focus of traditional economic theory and what is its fault?

Answer 1

It focuses on absolute rewards, but evidence suggests that social comparisons influence well-being, decisions, and satisfaction

Question 2

What does analysis of blood oxygenation level show (using fMRI)?

Answer 2

It shows that social comparison is important in reward processing

Question 3

How is social comparison related to reward processing?

Answer 3

Reward processing is a relative concept which is not determined solely by absolute outcomes. People may be happy with gaining 60 euros or unhappy deciding on how it compares to the outcome of relevant others