WHEN DOWNWARD COMPARISON PRODUCES NEGATIVE AFFECT: THE SENSE OF CONTROL AS A MODERATOR

2001 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 427-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Michinov
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
Individual Difference ◽  
Social Comparisons ◽  
Sense Of Control ◽  
Affective Reactions ◽  
Comparison Theory ◽  
Difference Factor ◽  
Downward Comparison ◽  
The Relationship

It has been assumed that engaging in upward or downward comparison can either improve or deteriorate affect, depending on the amount of control individuals feel they have over the comparison dimension. The main goal of the present study was to determine whether an individual difference factor such as the sense of control can moderate the relationship between social comparison and affect. The results showed that for downward comparison, the lower the participants scored on the sense of control, the higher the negative affect they experienced. Unexpectedly, the sense of control was unrelated to affect in upward comparison. Additional results indicated that identification with the comparison targets had an impact on negative affect. This study provides evidence that the sense of control may be useful in understanding affective reactions to social comparisons. The theoretical implications in downward comparison theory are discussed.

The causal relationship between envy and depression: A cross-lagged regression analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (12) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Xinsheng Jiang ◽  
Jinyu Wang
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
Causal Relationship ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Gender Effect ◽  
Comparison Theory ◽  
Treatment Of Depression ◽  
Nonclinical Sample ◽  
Upward Social Comparison ◽  
The Relationship

The causal relationship between envy and depression is currently far from clear. We conducted a cross-lagged regression analysis of data on envy and depression, obtained from a nonclinical sample of 260 undergraduate students at two time points spaced 14 months apart. From the perspective of social comparison theory, the results show that although after 14 months envy positively predicted depression, depression did not predict envy. The envy–depression relationship is, thus, a unidirectional causality. In addition, there was no overall gender effect on the relationship between envy and depression. Our finding of the effect of upward social comparison on the envy–depression relationship provides guidance for the treatment of depression in clinical practice.

Relationship social comparisons: Comparison interpretations and attributions as predictors of relationship quality

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 1069-1097 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marian M. Morry ◽  
Kenny C. Chee ◽  
Trinda L. Penniston ◽  
Tamara A. Sucharyna
Keyword(s):  
Social Comparison ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Social Comparisons ◽  
Upward Comparison ◽  
Downward Comparison ◽  
Relationship Success ◽  
Comparison Direction ◽  
Dating Relationship

How individuals interpret a relationship social comparison is important to their relationship quality. We asked whether relationship social comparison interpretations (RSCIs) differ from relationship attributions. Individuals were randomly assigned to compare their dating relationship to a friend’s relationship that was doing better (upward comparison) or worse (downward comparison) than their own. Individuals then completed measures for the RSCI and attributions for their own relationship success/failure (Study 1) and attributions for their friend’s relationship success/failure (Study 2). Correlations indicated that the RSCI and attributions were not isomorphic. Simultaneous regressions indicated that the RSCI was a more consistent predictor of relationship quality than were attributions. How individuals interpret social comparisons not just the comparison direction should be studied.

Upward Persistence and Downward Desistence: Some Reactions to Social-Comparison Deprivation after a Threat

2001 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-122
Author(s):  
Nicolas Michinov ◽  
Louis Bavent
Keyword(s):  
Social Comparison ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Social Comparisons ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Improvement Strategy ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Upward Comparison ◽  
Downward Comparison ◽  
Self Protection

Laboratory and field research has shown that people prefer either downward or upward comparison after a threatening experience. Downward comparison is generally used to protect self-esteem immediately after a threat. It can be regarded as a short-term self-protection strategy. Upward comparison is often used to see whether it is possible to improve a situation by finding similarities with more fortunate people. It can be regarded as a long-term self-improvement strategy. It was assumed here that deprivation of downward and upward comparison after a threat would generate different degrees of interest and persistence in making social comparisons. More specifically, we expected social comparison persistence to be greater after upward-comparison deprivation than after downward-comparison deprivation or no deprivation at all, especially with superior others. The results of two studies supported our predictions and are discussed in several theoretical frameworks.

The effects of coworkers' development idiosyncratic deals on employees' cooperation intention

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (11) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Xiaoyan Zhang ◽  
Wenbing Wu ◽  
Yihua Zhang ◽  
Hui Deng ◽  
Yuanyuan Lan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Comparison ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Equity Theory ◽  
Task Interdependence ◽  
Idiosyncratic Deals ◽  
Comparison Theory ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
And Task

Idiosyncratic deals (i-deals) are individualized agreements of a nonstandard nature negotiated between employers and employees regarding employment terms, which are regarded as being beneficial for the organization. On the bases of social comparison theory and equity theory, we hypothesized that witnessing the development i-deals of their coworkers would trigger employees' feeling of unfairness, causing lower cooperation intention. We further hypothesized that perceived future i-deals and task interdependence would play moderating roles in this reduction. Participants were 284 employees in China. The results show that feelings of unfairness mediated the relationship between witnessing development i-deals and the witnesses' cooperation intention. The positive relationship between witnessing development i-deals and feelings of unfairness was weaker when employees perceived a stronger possibility of themselves obtaining a future i-deal, and a high level of task interdependence weakened the negative effect of feelings of unfairness on employees' cooperation intention.

Elderly Wellbeing and the Psychology of Social Comparison

1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol A. Sherrard
Keyword(s):  
Social Comparison ◽  
Social Comparisons ◽  
Professional Group ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Comparison Theory ◽  
Physical Decline ◽  
Class Differences ◽  
Manual Group ◽  
Gender And Health ◽  
Significant Class

ABSTRACTTwenty-two elderly retired people were interviewed for their beliefs about the sources of wellbeing in old age. Manual and Professional social class responses were compared, controlling for age, gender and health status. Respondents' free discourse was characterised by spontaneous social comparisons of the self with other people. In Social Comparison Theory, these serve as a means of self-assessment or wellbeing-enhance-ment. The comparison statements were analysed by Direction, Target, Dimension, and Wellbeing Yield. Significant class differences were apparent. Both groups compared Downward with others on the Dimensions of ageing, longevity, keeping active, security, and money. The Manual group derived less wellbeing from their Downward comparisons, many of which focused on entitlement to money benefits. The Professional group made more Upward comparisons, focusing on the younger self as Target, and yielding neutral or negative wellbeing. The predominant Upward Dimensions were perceived cognitive and physical condition. The Professionals tended to rationalise cognitive decline, but neither group showed psychological defence against physical decline, using social comparison as a means to objective self-assessment rather than self-enhancement.

ADVERSE SOCIAL COMPARISON PROCESSES AND NEGATIVE SELF-FEELINGS: A TEST OF ALTERNATIVE MODELS

2004 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beverly L. Stiles ◽  
Howard B. Kaplan
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
Social Comparisons ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares Regression ◽  
Alternative Models ◽  
The Relationship

Theoretically informed models are estimated that specify the direction of the relationship between social comparisons and negative self-feelings. The data are from three waves of an ongoing longitudinal study of adaptations to stress. Subjects are individuals who were tested in their middle teens (T3), mid-twenties (Time 4) and in their mid-thirties (Time 5). The models were estimated using both logistic regression and ordinary least squares regression. In general, the results suggest that negative self-feelings are an antecedent of social comparison processes as negative self-feelings are significantly related to all five measures of social comparison. Findings suggest that negative self-feelings are sometimes a consequence of social comparison processes as negative self-feelings are significantly related to three of the five measures of social comparison.

Comparisons Across Dimensions, People, and Time: On the Primacy of Social Comparison in Self-Evaluations

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 791-800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethan Zell ◽  
Jason E. Strickhouser
Keyword(s):  
Social Comparison ◽  
Social Comparisons ◽  
The Other ◽  
Affective Reactions ◽  
Past Performance ◽  
Temporal Comparison ◽  
Upward Comparison

People often consider how their performance in one domain compares to their performance in other domains, the performance of other people, and their past performance (i.e., dimensional, social, and temporal comparison). The present research is the first to test whether social comparisons have a significantly larger effect on self-evaluations than dimensional and temporal comparisons. Study 1 participants received downward versus upward dimensional, social, and temporal comparison feedback ( N = 393). Study 2 participants received downward versus upward comparison feedback for one type and lateral comparisons for the other two types ( N = 281). Dimensional and social comparison significantly influenced self-evaluations and affective reactions in both studies. As anticipated, however, social comparison had a significantly larger effect on self-evaluations and affective reactions than either dimensional or temporal comparison. These data provide novel, causal evidence for the primacy of social comparison when people receive three feedback types.

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.

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