1. Social Comparison Theory - Early Roots Newcomb (1947) - Bennington study - Reference Groups - negative and positive Schachter (1950) - Deviants and Communication People communicate with deviants and bring them in line - this works best in uniform groups Festinger (1954) Social Comparison Theory Attitudes - we seek comparison with similar others Abilities - unidirectional push upwards

2. Social Comparisons Upward & Downward Brickman & Bulman (1977) - pleasure and pain of social comparison - the importance of the social context Upward Comparisons are avoided because they can be threatening Downward comparisons can be sought out because they can make one feel better--although sometimes they make one feel worse Wood, Taylor, & Lichtman (1985) - Social comparisons in adjustment to breast cancer - Most women made some sort of downward comparison Lockwood & Kunda (1997) - Inspiration and Social Comparison

3. Lockwood & Kunda (1997)

4. Relative Deprivation Merton & Kitt (1950) - the importance of reference groups Brickman, Coates, Janoff-Bulman Whose Happy? Lottery Winners Paraplegics