How do we know who we are? An update on social comparison theory

Sources of Self-Knowledge Global self-esteem Direct feedback from others Indirect feedback from others Reflected appraisals Self-perception Social comparison

Self-Perception Bem’s SP theory: when internal cues are difficult to interpret, people gain self-insight by observing their own behavior. Emotions---facial feedback Motivation---reward study

Self-Perception Theory Self-perception: “I do this because I like it.” Intrinsic Motivation No external reward Enjoyable activities Self-perception: “I do this because I’m paid to.” Extrinsic Motivation External reward (e.g., $)

Festinger (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. People are driven to evaluate their opinions and abilities. Emphasis on Accuracy: “The holding of incorrect opinions and/or inaccurate appraisals of one’s abilities can be punishing or even fatal in many situations.”

Festinger (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. 2. In the absence of objective information, people compare to others. 3. People prefer to compare to others who have similar abilities.

Two types of social comparison research Reactions to comparison- what happens to self-evaluations when people encounter social comparisons? Comparison choice- when do people choose to compare to others? With whom do people compare?

Social Comparison Direction Upward social comparison- compare to someone who is better than you. Downward social comparison- compare to someone who is worse than you.

Testing the Similarity Hypothesis: Rank Order Paradigm 19 ?? 12  You 7 Which score would you like to see?

Testing the Similarity Hypothesis: Related Attributes Suls et al Participant Gender Chose Male Norm Chose Female Norm Chose Combined Norm Male 44.1% 55.9% Female 61.1% 38.9% These results are for the condition in which there was no mention of gender differences

Support for the Similarity Hypothesis Rank order paradigm—compare to others with similar scores. Related attributes paradigm—compare to others with similar characteristics (e.g., gender).

Social Comparison and Objective Information Festinger: In the absence of objective information, people compare to others.

Klein (1997) Social comparison and objective information P’s received feedback on a test of esthetic ability. Upward SC Downward SC High score You: 60 Avg: 80 Avg: 40 Low score You: 40 Avg: 60 Avg: 20 DV’s: Self-evaluations and Task Choice

Klein (1997): Results Self-evaluations were sig. affected by social comparison info, but not objective info. Choice of task was sig. affected by both. Interpretation: People use SC even when they have (more useful) objective info.

Accuracy perspective: Comparison Choice Buckingham (2001). Does objective information reduce the drive to compare to others? Accuracy perspective: The more information people have about an ability, the less interest they should have in comparing to other individuals.

Buckingham (2001). Procedure 59 female students participated in a “driving safety” study. P’s completed the Driving Appraisal Inventory. Experimenter provided feedback. You have a 20% chance of causing an automobile accident.

Buckingham (2001). Variables Manipulation: Control group: no further information. Safer than average group: the average risk for a woman your age is 30%. Riskier than average group: the average risk for a woman your age is 10%. Dependent variable: Would you like to see how others scored?

Buckingham (2001) Results Control (no average) Riskier than average Safer than average Percentage requesting comparison information 52% 65% 20% Control and riskier than average groups do not significantly differ. Safer than average participants were less likely than those in the other 2 groups to request SC information.

When do people compare with others? Accuracy perspective: The more information people have about an ability, the less interest they should have in comparing to other individuals. Revision: Additional information (e.g., the average) reduces the drive to compare when it puts the person in a favorable light.

How Frequently do People Compare With Others? Wheeler & Miyake (1992) Diary study using the Rochester Social Comparison Record. On average, participants recorded 23.5 comparisons over 13.1 days.

Social Comparison Motives: Wood, 1989 Why do people compare with others?: Self-evaluation (accuracy)- people want valid info about themselves. Self-enhancement- people want to feel good about themselves. Self-improvement- people want to get better.