Social Comparison Behavior in Social Psychology
(Stets & Burke, 2015)
The article by Stets and Burke (2015) delves into the social comparison process that influences both an individual’s identity of self and behavior. Stets and Burke (2015) argue that social comparison is an extension of Festinger’s Social Communication Theory, which asserts that individuals seek to conform their opinion with the standards of an in-group by comparing their opinion with others. The article argues that comparison can be either upwards (with people in a better state) or downwards (with worse-off individuals). The authors suggest that individuals with high self-esteem are more likely to compare downwards compared to low-esteemed individuals (p. 40). Also, those with unstable self-esteem are more likely to compare upwards compared to stable self-esteem individuals (p. 40). In my opinion, comparison tendencies are higher among individuals with low self-esteem and unstable self-esteem. However, I agree with them that comparison can achieve either assimilation or dissimilation from the targeted comparator depending on the individual’s view of the target (p. 40).
Stets and Burke (2015, p.41) suggest that the social identity theory is crucial to the comparison process. The social identity theory maintains that in-group members engage in the process of self and intergroup comparison of the in-group prototype to reduce uncertainty. There are three bases of identities, including personal identity, role identity, and social identity. According to the paper, individuals self-categorize their three identities to verify their identity is in harmony with the in-group’s prototype or standard. The article proposes a model for the comparison process. According to Stets and Burke (2015 p. 43), the comparison process forms a negative feedback loop that re-aligns the individual’s behavior with the comparator’s feedback. In the comparison process, discrepancies between the perception of self and the comparator’s opinion create emotional responses, which alter the individual’s behavior (p. 44). Therefore, the paper proposes that the driving factor of self-comparison is to verify the three identities of self and reaffirm the individual’s conformity to the group’s standards.
Gerber et al. (2018)
Gerber et al. (2018) argue that individuals often prefer to compare themselves with someone better, even when they recognize the threat of the comparison process to their self-esteem (p. 4). The authors submit that most comparison processes result in lowered confidence in the self-ability. The paper discusses the effect of either upward or downward social comparison on the individual’s baseline self-esteem. According to the article, assimilation with an upward comparison results in a positive reaction, while contrast results in a negative reaction. Also, assimilation with a downward comparison results in a negative reaction, while contrast results in a positive reaction. Therefore, individuals want comparison results that draw them nearer to an upward comparator and farther away from a downward comparator.
In my opinion, the results of Gerber et al.’s study highlight why individuals are willing to compare themselves with others. I believe that individuals use social comparison to measure their opinions and progress towards their admired self. Therefore, assimilation with an upward comparator would indicate progress towards an ideal self that would result in a positive reaction. Conversely, a contrast from an upward comparator would indicate distance or regress from an ideal self, which would harm their self-esteem. Additionally, assimilation or contrast in comparison with a downward target would indicate either regression or progress towards an ideal self, respectively. Therefore, in my opinion, individuals use social comparison as a measuring tool for confirming their progress towards an ideal self.
References
Gerber, J., Wheeler, L., & Suls, J. (2018). A social comparison theory meta-analysis 60+ years on. Psychological Bulletin, 144(2), 177-197. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000127
Stets, J., & Burke, P. (2015). Social comparison in identity theory. Communal Functions Of Social Comparison, 39-59. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9781139035583.004