Social Comparison Theory

Social comparison theory is one of the important concepts and ideas advanced by psychologist Leon Festinger way back in 1954, explaining how human beings determine their sense of self-esteem, identity, and behaviour. According to social comparison theory, people compare themselves with others around them from their surroundings and environment in order to evaluate themselves. 

Origins and Framework of Social Comparison Theory 

Festinger recommended that people have a natural desire to assess their abilities and attitudes. In the absence of applicable standards, people compare themselves with others to establish their relative standing. This allows an individual to establish his or her self-concept and evaluate his or her performance. According to the theory, there are two types  of comparisons: 

• Upward Comparison: Comparing with someone who is perceived as superior in a specific field. 
• Downward Comparison: Comparing oneself with someone perceived as inferior in a particular domain. 

Each type serves different psychological functions and has distinct consequences for self-esteem and motivation. 

Leon Festinger: A Pioneer in Social Psychology 

Leon Festinger (1919–1989) is considered by many as one of the most influential social psychologists. Besides his groundbreaking work in social comparison, Festinger later created another landmark concept in psychology: cognitive dissonance. Originally, his research focused on the power of social interactions and cognition in conditioning human behaviour.

Festinger’s theory of social comparison was thus born out of interest in group dynamics and human motivation. He believed that the inclination to evaluate is a ubiquitous and very contextual phenomenon that is bound to the social environment. The theory provides a basis for explaining how comparison influences emotions such as envy, pride, and self-esteem. 

Read More: Cognitive Dissonance Theory by Leon Festinger

Mechanisms of Social Comparison 

The process of social comparison unfolds through the following stages: 

• Choice of Comparison Object: People generally compare individuals who share similar characteristics, such as age, occupation, or hobbies with the self. Such similarity in comparison naturally renders it more relevant and meaningful. 
• Emotional and Behavioral Consequences: These comparisons induce feelings of pride, jealousy, or inspiration and may lead to behaviours driven by self-enhancement or self-protection. 
• Comparison-Based Appraisal: After making a comparison, people assess whether they are superior to the compared person, inferior to that person, or equal to that person. 

Examples: Upward comparison with someone who yields better results will make a student feel challenged to study harder. In contrast, comparing himself to a worse student makes him feel relatively safe if he does any better (downward comparison). 

Types of Social Comparison 

1. Upward Comparisons: Seeking Inspiration or Feeling Inferior 

Upward comparisons are when a person compares with someone she deems better or more successful than him or herself. Inspiration and motivation can be drawn from such comparisons, but envy, feelings of inadequacy, and lower self-esteem result.

• For example, The startup venture might inspire budding entrepreneurs the industry leaders like Elon Musk or Oprah Winfrey. Instead, comparisons with an unrealistic standard, such as a celebrity’s lifestyle, as depicted on social media, evoke feelings of inferiority. 

2. Downward Comparisons: Boosting Self-Esteem or Fostering Complacency 

Downward comparisons involve one comparing oneself with somebody who is considered inferior or less competent/successful. This often proves to be a boosting self-esteem device and it does provide some solace. However, it also promotes complacency as well as a lack of initiative towards change. 

• For example, A patient recovering from an illness might take heart from comparing himself with a more seriously ill person. On the other hand, chronic downward comparisons can hinder personal growth and self-improvement.

Read More: Relative Deprivation Theory

Criticisms of Social Comparisons: The Fallibility 

According to Festinger, people use social comparisons to enable them to accurately judge their abilities, traits, and attitudes. However, sometimes, they may not afford accurate comparisons that give poor self-judgments. If social comparison does not work or produces unexisting standards, it may position individuals in positions that are too difficult or complex for whatever skills they have at hand to prove a point. 

For instance, a young athlete comparing himself to the Olympic gold medalist is subjected to undue pressure, discouragement, and even anxiety at times, when obviously, he should be capable of being better with time and practice. That is a wrong comparison since it fails to note the experience and training differences. Comparisons then betray reality and are not very close to the initial purpose they were intended to achieve personal exercise for reflection and motivation. 

Read More: The Role of Social Identity in Group Dynamics

Social Comparison in Everyday Life 

Social comparison manifests in various domains of life, influencing behaviours, emotions, and perceptions. Key areas where social comparison plays a significant role include: 

• Education: Students often compare their academic performance with peers to assess their abilities. While healthy competition can motivate students to strive for excellence, excessive comparison can lead to academic stress and feelings of inadequacy. 
• Workplace: Many employees in organizations continually compare themselves with their colleagues concerning performance, wages, and rewards. Upward comparison may enhance motivation and performance, but constant comparison with better-performing colleagues may lead to burnout or low morale.
• Personal Relationships: In relationships, people may compare their partner’s traits or behaviours or his or her relationship dynamics with others. Comparisons can spur self-awareness and positive self-change; however, comparative situations may also give rise to dissatisfaction or resentment if expectations become unrealistic. 
• Social Media: Social media has increased the opportunities for social comparison because of the way these platforms, especially Instagram and Facebook, present high points of people’s lives for everyone to use for comparison against their reality and the ideal others could have. More extensive use of social media was related to upward comparison frequency and several adverse mental health outcomes like anxiety and depression, according to a study. 

Read More: Equity Theory: Balancing of Inputs and Outputs

Implications of Social Comparison 

Positive Implications 

• Gratitude and Perspective: Downward comparisons can facilitate gratitude and help put things into perspective when things get tough. It can make one appreciate one’s own life more knowing that others have it worse.
• Motivation and Self-Improvement: Upward comparison can motivate people to set more idealistic goals and work harder to attain them. For example, an athlete may train vigorously after comparing him-/herself to the best competitor. 
• Learning and Adaptation: Comparing oneself to others could be useful feedback in the learning and adaptation process. Observations of others’ successes and failures would be informative about effective strategies and pitfalls to avoid. 

Negative Implications 

• Envy and Resentment: Upward comparisons, especially with standards perceived as unattainable, begets feelings of envy, resentment, and inferiority. 
• Relationship Stains: If there is a tendency to compare oneself or one’s partner with other people, there may be dissatisfaction or even conflict in relationships. 
• Mental Health Disorder: Social comparison has been recognized as a risk factor for depression, anxiety, and body image disturbance if overindulged in social media. 
• Erosion of Self-Esteem: Over time, constant comparisons may create a sense of inferiority and reduced self-esteem. These tend to occur in situations where persons are under chronic pressure to outperform others. 

Read More: What is Social Exchange Theory?

Methods to Counteract Social Comparison 

Even if social comparison might be positive in some cases, negative consequences could  be reduced if people follow some methods listed below: 

• Self-awareness: Recognizing when and why social comparisons occur marks the first step towards managing them. Awareness helps people know the difference between useful comparisons and those that are harmful to their well-being. 
• Focus on Personal Growth: Focusing on personal growth rather than comparison with others creates a healthier perspective. Individuals can then set realistic goals for themselves and measure their progress against past performance rather than in comparison to others. 
• Limit Exposure to Social Media: Minimizing time spent on social media or creating a feed consisting of positive, uplifting posts is a sure way to minimize the problems created by upward comparisons. Unsubscribing to accounts or profiles that stimulate feelings of inadequacy is also helpful. 
• Develop Gratitude: Keeping gratitude exercises helps people focus on their strengths and accomplishments rather than tending to compare with others. Gratitude also breeds contentment and a cheerful mentality. 
• Obtain Validations and Support: Talking over feelings of inadequacy or envy with trusted friends, family, or a therapist can be very reassuring and open our eyes to other people’s perspectives. Support systems help bring out the best in coping with the damage of social comparison. 

Read More: Social comparison in the age of Social media

History and Criticism 

Social Comparison Theory may still have significant influence, but it is not without its critics and evolution. 

• Lack of Rationality: It is blind to the emotional and unconscious parts of such a process and assumes people are rational in their comparisons.
• The theory lacks an understanding of cultural differences: The theory is an individualistic cultural reflection, focusing on personal achievement and comparison. In collectivist cultures, social comparisons could be more harped on lines of group harmony and community well-being. 
• Research Development: The current literature has integrated knowledge from neurosciences and technology, highlighting ways in which digital media amplifies social comparison and its psychological impact. 

Conclusion

Social Comparison Theory gives profound insight into human behaviour, indicating such differences and comparisons play a crucial role in determining self-concept, motivation, and well-being. While comparisons have proven to inspire growth and ingratiation, mismanaged comparisons risk psychological health and self-esteem. With the mechanisms and implications of social comparison as its reasoning, individuals can navigate its challenges and impact on the human will and harness its potential for personal development.