Social Comparison Theory Overview

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Questions and Answers

What aspect of life satisfaction does the Brindal 2021 COVID study emphasize?

Second-order changes

Environmental influences

Community connection

Dispositional factors (correct)

What does community psychology specifically reject in its approach?

Second-order change

Individualism (correct)

Environmental factors

Collectivism

Who is considered the father of Social Psychology and Experimental Psychology?

John Dewey

Floyd Allport (correct)

Norman Triplett

Wilhelm Wundt

Which of the following philosophers believed that society shapes human development?

Aristotle Signup and view all the answers

What significant limitation does the Brindal 2021 study have regarding its findings?

Self-reported data Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of self-awareness on behavior according to the Self-Awareness Theory of Introspection?

It encourages individuals to evaluate their behaviors against their internal standards. Signup and view all the answers

In Diener & Wallbom's study, what was observed about participants who were seated with a mirror in front of themselves?

They exhibited greater adherence to their internal values. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to feelings of self-worth when individuals exceed their internal standards?

They must work harder to maintain feelings of success. Signup and view all the answers

Which effect did Sohn et al. (2019) find regarding introspection on Facebook?

Individuals are less likely to post abusive comments when they see their own face. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common outcome when individuals think about themselves during voluntary activities, such as watching TV?

They experience lower self-affect. Signup and view all the answers

What is a reason for engaging in social comparison?

When an objective standard is not available for self-evaluation Signup and view all the answers

Which type of social comparison involves looking at those who are at a similar skill level?

Lateral social comparison Signup and view all the answers

Downward social comparison is primarily practiced to achieve what outcome?

Boost self-evaluations and restore self-esteem Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential negative effect of upward social comparison?

Feelings of regret and envy Signup and view all the answers

According to social comparison theory, why do people compare themselves to others?

To learn about their own abilities and attitudes Signup and view all the answers

What is an effect associated with downward comparisons?

Enhanced feelings of gratitude Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about upward social comparisons is true?

They help individuals identify with people who are better off. Signup and view all the answers

What cultural aspect influences motivation in social comparison?

Self-enhancement Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of self-construal theory is highlighted by the study conducted by Han & Humphreys in 2016?

The relationship between self-view and group membership Signup and view all the answers

In the research by Hamilton & Biehal, what was observed about independent participants' financial choices?

They demonstrated a tendency to make riskier choices for personal gain. Signup and view all the answers

What primary conclusion can be drawn from Mandel's 2003 study about the interdependence of individuals?

Interdependent individuals are more likely to take risks when supported by family. Signup and view all the answers

How does the self-concept of Indigenous Australians differ from Western ideas?

It includes a holistic view of community and environment. Signup and view all the answers

According to the provided definition of culture, what roles does it play in human existence?

It encompasses values, norms, and survival techniques. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of independent self-construal was indicated in decision-making scenarios in Mandel's study?

Lower financial risk aversion. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Self-Construal Scale as studied by Singelis (1994) aim to measure?

Individual differences in self-views. Signup and view all the answers

What key finding emerged from the study by Hamilton & Biehal concerning advertising?

Interdependent individuals favor group advertisements. Signup and view all the answers

What is a schema primarily used for in cognitive processing?

To represent mental blueprints of everyday experiences Signup and view all the answers

How do heuristics simplify decision-making?

By enabling the use of rule-based shortcuts Signup and view all the answers

What does the availability heuristic rely on?

The frequency with which events are recalled Signup and view all the answers

What is a representative heuristic primarily concerned with?

The similarity of an example to a pre-existing category Signup and view all the answers

What misconception may arise from illusory correlations?

That two unrelated events are perceived as connected Signup and view all the answers

According to Schwarz et al. (1991), what pattern was observed in recalling examples?

Easier recall resulted in increased belief in the examples' truthfulness Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about schemas is true?

Schemas can save time and reduce cognitive effort. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best exemplifies the concept of availability heuristic?

Believing airplane crashes are common because they are frequently reported in the news. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The process of thinking about information about one or more other people in relation to the self.
We notice similarities and differences between ourselves and others.
We compare behaviour, ability, opinions, life circumstances, jobs, and things we own.

We learn about our own abilities and attitudes by comparing ourselves to others.

When do we do this? We compare ourselves to others when we have no objective standard to measure ourselves against and when we care about our performance in the domain.
Who do we compare ourselves to? We compare ourselves to others upwards, downwards, or laterally.
Upward social comparison: Comparing to people who are doing better than us.
Downward social comparison: Comparing to people who are doing worse than us or our past selves.
Lateral social comparisons: Comparing to people at the same skill level.
Why do we compare ourselves to others? We compare ourselves to others to learn about ourselves, to understand our place in the world, and to motivate ourselves.
What is the impact of social comparison? Social comparison can have both positive and negative impacts on our self-esteem and motivation.

Downward Comparison Theory

It is comparing to those doing worse than us.
This is because threats hurt our self-esteem, and this comparison restores our self-esteem.
People with low self-esteem are prone to downward comparisons to make themselves feel better.
Downward comparison boosts self-evaluations.
We contrast ourselves because we are sensitive to the differences between ourselves and others.

We compare to others doing better than us.
We compare to improve our self-esteem, by identifying with them.
It makes us feel better by identifying with better people.
It makes us feel successful.
It boosts self-evaluation.
We aim to assimilate with successful people.
We are sensitive to similarities between ourselves and others.

Gerber et al 2018 Contrast and Assimilation with Others

Upward comparison gives us hope and inspiration.
Downward comparisons provide gratitude.
Contrasting ourselves to others is the dominant social comparison response.

The Negative Effects of Comparing to Others

Upward comparison effects: Regret and envy of others' success.
Downward comparison effects: Worry about ourselves.

Helgeson and Mickelson 1995 Motivation

Culture influences motivation.
Self-enhancement: Makes us feel better.
Genetic predisposition influences how we compare ourselves to others.

Brindal 2021 COVID Study

Examined life satisfaction before, during, and after COVID.
Found dispositional factors influenced how people felt about their life satisfaction.
Limitation: Self-reported, subjective, after the event.

Community Psychology

Considers environmental factors and political systems and how they influence behavior.
Rejects individualism and first-order change.
Accepts collectivism: Attends to societal problems and second-order change.
Society, media, and environmental factors contribute to how a person lives their life.

Second Order Change

Empowers community problem-solving.
Implements preventative measures.

Kelly 2019

Examined social enterprise in Scotland.

Aristotle: Society shapes human development.
Comte: People are both the cause and consequence of society; they are products and producers of the social environment.

1879 Wilhelm Wundt

First psychology laboratory.
Separated psychology from philosophy and biology.

1898 Norman Triplett

Started social psychology.
Wrote the first paper on social psychology.
Founded the social facilitation theory.

John Dewey

Believed that shaping society benefits the masses through collectivist work.

1908 McDougal

Wrote the first social psychology textbook.

Ross

Wrote a social psychology textbook.

1920-1930 Floyd Allport

Called the father of social psychology and experimental psychology.
Focused on individual dispositions, not society.
Conducted research during the Great Depression finding community ties a protective factor against adverse events.

Collective Interdependence

Self view is incorporated into membership of a large group (e.g., footy group, I am Australian, I am a student at ACAP).
Men often demonstrate collective interdependence.

Study of Self-Construal Theory

Singelis 1994: Conducted a study of University of Hawaii students using the Self-Construal Scale. The results supported the theory.

Study of Self-Construal Theory

Han & Humphreys 2016: Conducted a study that looked at the relationship between self-construal and risk aversion.

Self-Construal Study

Hamilton & Biehal 2005: Conducted a study that looked at the relationship between self-construal and advertising.
Results: Independent participants made riskier choices with money for personal gain. Interdependent participants were more risk-averse to protect the greater good and others, worried about losing a lot of money, and demonstrated collectivist tendencies.

Self-Construal Study

Mandel 2003: Conducted a study that primed participants for independence or interdependence by reading the Sumerian Warrior Story. Participants were then presented with risky and safe options for four scenarios, two financial and two social.
Results: Interdependent participants made riskier financial choices because they believed family would support them, but were less likely to engage in risky social behavior. Independent participants demonstrated the opposite: Less risky financially and more likely to take risks socially.

The Self-Concept of Indigenous Australians

Holistic definition of Aboriginal health and wellbeing that encompasses the entire community.
Recognizes the self, kin, family, community, traditional lands, ancestors, and spiritual existence.
Challenges Western ideas of self-concept.

Week 4

Introspection
Observing our own behavior
Comparing ourselves to others

Introspection

Looking inward to examine inside information that we have about our thoughts, feelings, and motives.
Thinking about ourselves is rare.

People had lower affect when thinking about themselves.
When we are doing a voluntary activity (e.g., watching TV), we have a negative self-affect.

Self-Awareness Theory of Introspection

When we think about ourselves, it causes us to evaluate and compare our current behavior to our internal standards and values. This can lead to feelings of guilt.
We become judgemental and objective observers.
We remember the kind of person we want to be and think we should be doing something productive because we are not.
Self-awareness is positive when we exceed our internal standards, but only temporarily. We feel like we must do better next time.
We sometimes have a negative effect when, even if we do well, we do not feel we can do it again or do it even better.
Every time that we exceed our expectations, our standards get raised, and we must do even better next time to feel good.

Diener & Wallbom (1976): Introspection and Behavior

Participants seated with a mirror in front of themselves were less likely to cheat on a timed five-minute test. This suggests self-awareness can reduce cheating.
Participants with low self-awareness and introspection are more likely to cheat.

Sohn et al. (2019): Trolling on Facebook

Study found that when people see their face on the video screen on Facebook, they are less likely to write abusive comments. This indicates that introspection can reduce trolling behavior.
We are aware of our own implicit attitudes.

Schema

A mental representation of the various things we come across in our everyday life.
A mental blueprint.
A belief about how we expect something to be or behavior.
A script.
Schemas reduce cognitive load and work.
Schemas save time and reduce cognitive effort.
Schemas allow us to go beyond the information we are given.

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts.
Rules of thumb for decision-making and judgments.
Reduce problem-solving.
Rule-based decisions.
Form attitudes quickly.

Types of Heuristics

Representative Heuristics: Judging something based on how similar it is to the category we already have; believing an example belongs to a particular group based on our mental representation of the category. It ignores base rate statistics and facts which can lead to the wrong conclusion. It fits into the representation you already have in your mind.
Availability Heuristics: Judges the likelihood of an event or the correctness of a hypothesis based on how easily the event comes to mind. The more common an event, the easier it is for your brain to access, which gives us a good approximation of frequency or correctness. It is less reliable for infrequent but highly accessible events. The frequency of something tells us how likely we think it can happen. The more we hear about something, the more common we think it is, which can lead to overestimates.

Schwarz et al. (1991): Heuristics

German female students were asked to recall either six or twelve examples of times they behaved assertively. Those who recalled more examples were more likely to believe they were assertive.

Illusory Correlations in Heuristics

Believing there is an association between two variables, events, actions, or ideas, when they are not associated.
Believing that two things are connected when they are not.

Two Types of Thinking

System 1: Fast, automatic, effortless, and intuitive thinking. Operates based on heuristics.
System 2: Slow, deliberate, and analytical thinking. Requires conscious effort and is sensitive to rules and logic.

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Description

Explore the intricacies of social comparison and how it shapes our self-perception. This quiz delves into the processes of upward, downward, and lateral comparisons, emphasizing their role in understanding our abilities and attitudes. Test your knowledge on when, who, and why we engage in these comparisons.