scholarly journals Selective Importance in Self-Enhancement: Patterns of Feedback Adolescents Use to Improve Math Self-Concept

2020 ◽  
pp. 027243162091248
Author(s):  
Peter McPartlan ◽  
Osman Umarji ◽  
Jacquelynne S. Eccles
Keyword(s):  
Social Comparison ◽  
Early Adolescents ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Social Comparison Theory ◽  
Mathematics Students ◽  
Comparison Theory

We illustrate how early adolescents use different patterns of ability feedback to promote a positive self-concept of ability (SCA) in mathematics. Students can simultaneously use ability appraisals from parents and teachers, while also drawing information from peer, dimensional, and temporal comparisons. Although we find these five sources are equally important for promoting students’ positive SCA, on average, we use a pattern-centered approach to show that students who believe they are good at math often select certain feedback sources as more important to develop this belief. We find that students’ patterns of ability feedback are unstable, with evidence suggesting different patterns may emerge depending on the availability of ability feedback. Findings suggest early adolescents attempting to promote their own positive SCA in mathematics may know to seek different feedback sources depending on their individual circumstances. Implications are discussed through the lens of social comparison theory.

Social Comparison in the Classroom: A Review

2008 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 828-879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pieternel Dijkstra ◽  
Hans Kuyper ◽  
Greetje van der Werf ◽  
Abraham P. Buunk ◽  
Yvonne G. van der Zee
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Comparison Theory ◽  
Comparison Theory ◽  
Comparison Direction ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Better Than

This article reviews research conducted on social comparison processes in the classroom since Festinger proposed his theory of social comparison. It covers the theoretical framework of social comparison theory, and it is organized around the following themes: motives for social comparison, dimensions of social comparison, direction of social comparison, and consequences of social comparison. The overall picture is an emerging one in which pupils prefer to compare their performances upward—specifically, with pupils who perform better than themselves but who resemble themselves on related and unrelated attributes. Although the magnitude of the effects of social comparison in the classroom is not examined, the review suggests that such upward comparisons not only lead pupils to perform better but evoke negative affect and lower academic self-concept. Topics discussed include inconsistencies (especially with regard to the direction of comparison and the motives underlying social comparison in the classroom), practical implications, and directions for future research.

scholarly journals GET IT, GIRL! An exploration of "fitspiration" content on Instagram using visual social semiotics and social comparison theory

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlyn McGuirk
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Professional Communication ◽  
Social Comparison Theory ◽  
Social Semiotics ◽  
Comparison Theory ◽  
Young Females ◽  
Media Platform ◽  
Female Bodies

By definition “fitspiration” (fit + inspiration) is any message designed to inspire or motivate individuals to achieve their fitness objectives. These messages are usually accompanied by an image of a very fit person performing a physical activity. Fitspiration messages seem to be everywhere with more than 12 million results on Instagram alone. This Master of Professional Communication Major Research Paper (MRP) explores the “fitspiration” phenomenon on the social media platform Instagram by examining 50 images tagged with “#fitspiration” during March and April 2017. Informed and analyzed through multiple methods including content analysis, visual social semiotics theory, discourse analysis and social comparison theory, this report seeks to answer the research questions: (1) What are the characteristics of “fitspiration” images on Instagram that are aimed at young women? (2) What messages do these media images convey? (3) What are the implications of these messages on young women? The results of this study suggest that the “thin-ideal” that is embedded in western culture still dominates social media and the “fitspiration” community, which continues to negatively impact young women’s self-esteem and body image. However, based on the findings there is a shift to the “strong is the new skinny” mentality where the captions and comments of each image are overwhelmingly positive in nature with little to no existence of destructive discourses. In an attempt to lessen the effects of such idealized and unrealistic portrayals of female bodies on young women there must be this continued presence of constructive messages and conversations on social media, coupled with education and social media literacy for young females.

Social Comparison Theory

2011 ◽  
pp. 160-184
Author(s):  
Noah E. Friedkin ◽  
Eugene C. Johnsen
Keyword(s):  
Social Comparison ◽  
Social Comparison Theory ◽  
Comparison Theory

A History of Social Comparison Theory

2019 ◽  
pp. 5-31
Author(s):  
Ladd Wheeler ◽  
Jerry Suls
Keyword(s):  
Social Comparison ◽  
Social Comparison Theory ◽  
Professional Lives ◽  
Comparison Theory ◽  
History Of ◽  
Kurt Lewin ◽  
The 1950S ◽  
Level Of Aspiration

This chapter provides a history of social comparison theory starting in 1944 with the “Level of Aspiration” paper by Kurt Lewin and colleagues. From the work of Stan Schachter on affiliation in the 1950s, the chapter maintains a linear narrative, attempting to tell the story with numerous digressions into what and how particularly important events happened. The authors are uniquely suited to do this, as their professional lives and friendships have overlapped almost completely with the developments of social comparison theory. They then discuss several theories that are often confused as being based on social comparison theory but are not. They yield the razor with gusto! The chapter ends with a discussion of the neighboring fields and applications that are indeed on the reasons this book is being published.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document