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Upward and Downward Social Comparison

By Julian, Courtney & Kaleigh

Upward Social Comparison

Upward social comparison refers to a comparison to others who are better off (Heike 2010, p497

Comparison Hotspots

- Effects

Potential

comparisons

  • Social Network Sites are a key area of upward social comparison because people compare number of likes, post activity and outward appearance to others (Yu-ting Qing Qi 2020, p1)
  • "Passive Social Network Activity" produces heightened upward social comparison (Yu-ting Qing Qi 2020, p5)

Wealth

Beauty

Social Status

Capabilities

  • Negative Self Evaluation: By comparing oneself to those who are of "higher status", one often thinks of themselves as less than (Yu-Ting & Qing Qi 2020, p1)
  • Increased materialism: Due to one's negative self evaluation, one often tries to improve their social status by becoming more materialistic. (Yu-Ting & Qing Qi 2020 p4)
  • Envy: As people compare themselves to others upward, they become envious of that particular individual (Van De Ven 2017, p193)

Source: Yu-Ting Hu, & Qing-Qi Liu. (2020). Passive social network site use and adolescent materialism: Upward social comparison as a mediator. Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal, 48(1), 1–8. https://doi-org.proxy16.noblenet.org/10.2224/sbp.8833

Social Comparison Defined

References

+ Effects

source: van de Ven, N. (2017). Envy and admiration: emotion and motivation following upward social comparison. Cognition & Emotion, 31(1), 193–200. https://doi-org.proxy16.noblenet.org/10.1080/02699931.2015.1087972

Yu-Ting Hu, & Qing-Qi Liu. (2020). Passive social network site use and adolescent materialism: Upward social comparison as a mediator. Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal, 48(1), 1–8. https://doi-org.proxy16.noblenet.org/10.2224/sbp.8833

Qu-Ting Hu, & Qing-Qi Liu. (2020). Passive social network site use and adolescent materialism: Upward social comparison as a mediator. Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal, 48(1), 1–8. https://doi-org.proxy16.noblenet.org/10.2224/sbp.8833

van de Ven, N. (2017). Envy and admiration: emotion and motivation following upward social comparison. Cognition & Emotion, 31(1), 193–200. https://doi-org.proxy16.noblenet.org/10.1080/02699931.2015.1087972

Burleson, K., Leach, C. W., & Harrington, D. M. (2005). Upward social comparison and self-concept: Inspiration and inferiority among art students in an advanced programme. British Journal of Social Psychology, 44(1), 109–123. https://doi-org.proxy16.noblenet.org/10.1348/014466604X2350

Johnson, C., & Stapel, D. (2010). Harnessing Social Comparisons: When and How Upward Comparisons Influence Goal Pursuit. Basic & Applied Social Psychology, 32(3), 234–242. https://doi-org.proxy16.noblenet.org/10.1080/01973533.2010.495640

Mahler, H., Kulik, J., Gerrard, M., & Gibbons, F. (2010). Effects of upward and downward social comparison information on the efficacy of an appearance-based sun protection intervention: a randomized, controlled experiment. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 33(6), 496–507. https://doi-org.proxy16.noblenet.org/10.1007/s10865-010-9279-3

  • Increased activity: When comparing oneself to someone who is of "higher status", one often tries to better themselves.
  • goal pursuit: If someone sees a goal that they want to achieve by comparing themselves to someone has achieved that goal (Johnson & Stapel 2010, p235
  • Admiration: One might feel "a feeling of delighted approval over the accomplishment of another person" (Van De Ven 2017, p194).
  • Inspiration: One often looks up to those who have acccomplished that which they are striving for and are inspired to push forward (Burleson et al. 2005, p109

Social Comparison can be defined as "process of thinking about information about one or more other people in relation to the self" (Gerber 2017, p177)

Source: Johnson, C., & Stapel, D. (2010). Harnessing Social Comparisons: When and How Upward Comparisons Influence Goal Pursuit. Basic & Applied Social Psychology, 32(3), 234–242. https://doi-org.proxy16.noblenet.org/10.1080/01973533.2010.495640

van de Ven, N. (2017). Envy and admiration: emotion and motivation following upward social comparison. Cognition & Emotion, 31(1), 193–200. https://doi-org.proxy16.noblenet.org/10.1080/02699931.2015.1087972

Burleson, K., Leach, C. W., & Harrington, D. M. (2005). Upward social comparison and self-concept: Inspiration and inferiority among art students in an advanced programme. British Journal of Social Psychology, 44(1), 109–123. https://doi-org.proxy16.noblenet.org/10.1348/014466604X23509

There are two primary types of social comparison: upward and downward (Guyer, Vauger-Johnston 2017, p3)

Source: Gerber, J. P., Wheeler, L., & Suls, J. (2018). A social comparison theory meta-analysis 60+ years on. Psychological Bulletin, 144(2), 177–197. https://doi-org.proxy16.noblenet.org/10.1037/bul0000127

Guyer, J., & Vaugan-Johnston, T. (2017). (PDF) Upward and downward social comparisons: A brief historical overview. Retrieved December 07, 2020, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323243976_Upward_and_downward_social_comparisons_A_brief_historical_overview

Main points

Discussion Question

Describe a time from your experience where you compared yourself to others either downward or upward. Looking back on the situation, is there anything you would have done differently?

Mitigating Negative Social Comparisons

  • Social Comparison can be either upward or downward
  • Social comparison upward refers to a comparison with others who are better off
  • Social comparison downward refers to when one compares themselves to someone perceived to be worse than they are
  • The ways to mitigate negative social comparison is to have an internal locus of control.

Solutions

To mitigate these feelings is to not compare ourselves so much to others, or to manage how we see ourselves

Solutions

References

  • Embrace your imperfections
  • Work on the things you do best
  • Create goals and work on them (Andrew J Elliot)
  • become cautious when you compare yourself to others and learn to stop
  • Stop looking towards social media for what you want to be
  • Instead of comparing oneself to another, look at the individual as "inspiration (Marquis de Condorset)
  • Focus on the things that really matter (zenhabits)
  • Find where the negative comparisons are coming from and assess it
  • Work on becoming more confident in yourself
  • If needed to compare, look at people who are similar to you for a balanced comparison
  • Learn to love enough (Bernard Grasset

https://zenhabits.net/lifes-enough-stop-comparing-yourself-to-others/

http://web.a.ebscohost.com.proxy16.noblenet.org/ehost/detail/detail?vid=15&sid=6a482fc1-d7a6-4b40-a99e-27d5085533b9%40sessionmgr4007&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWNvb2tpZSxpcCxjcGlkJmN1c3RpZD1iaGMmc2l0ZT1laG9zdC1saXZlJnNjb3BlPXNpdGU%3d#db=pdh&AN=2020-82678-001&anchor=c36

http://web.a.ebscohost.com.proxy16.noblenet.org/ehost/detail/detail?vid=6&sid=4512b05a-b6d4-4152-a692-a2b79f690fd3%40sessionmgr4007&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWNvb2tpZSxpcCxjcGlkJmN1c3RpZD1iaGMmc2l0ZT1laG9zdC1saXZlJnNjb3BlPXNpdGU%3d#AN=2020-60659-001&db=pdh

Mitigating is also to make something less severe, so the goal is to find ways to comapre ourselves in a more equal way.

References:

Kemmelmeier, M., & Oyserman, D. (2001). Gendered Influence of Downward Social Comparisons on Current and Possible Selves. Journal of Social Issues, 57(1), 129–148. https://doi-org.proxy16.noblenet.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00205

Stewart, T., Chipperfield, J., Ruthig, J., & Heckhausen, J. (2013). Downward social comparison and subjective well-being in late life: The moderating role of perceived control. Aging & Mental Health, 17(3), 375–385. https://doi-org.proxy16.noblenet.org/10.1080/13607863.2012.743963

Yip, J. J., & Kelly, A. E. (2013). Upward and downward social comparisons can decrease prosocial behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 43(3), 591–602. https://doi-org.proxy16.noblenet.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2013.01039.x

Downward Social Comparison

Occurs when a person compares themselves to someone perceived to be worse off than they are.

Gender Related Influence

"Downward Comparisons are more likely to lower women's achievment-related-self-evaluations compared to men's." (Kemmelmeier, Markus, Oyserma, Daphna 2001)

When downward social comparison appears as a threat to self, men and women differ in how they prevent this.

"Gendered responses to downward comparison are at least in part driven by culturally normative focus on dispostional information prevalent in the west." (Kemmelmeier, Markus, Oyserma, Daphna 2001)

Kemmelmeier, M., & Oyserman, D. (2001). Gendered Influence of Downward Social Comparisons on Current and Possible Selves. Journal of Social Issues, 57(1), 129–148. https://doi-org.proxy16.noblenet.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00205

Downward Social Comparison in Older People

"At a young age, many of us are taught to recognize that no matter how bad our situation is; there are others whose situation is worse." (Stewart, Tara L, Chipperfield, Judith G, Ruthig, Joelle C, Heckhausen, Jutta 2013)

Can occur in older adults suffering from age related regression, and inability to perform tasks in which they were once able.

They will often compare themsleves to "worse-off others" as a way of justifying their circumstances.

Associated with subjective well-being outcomes, percieved life satisfaction, often caused by deep regrets.

Stewart, T., Chipperfield, J., Ruthig, J., & Heckhausen, J. (2013). Downward social comparison and subjective well-being in late life: The moderating role of perceived control. Aging & Mental Health, 17(3), 375–385. https://doi-org.proxy16.noblenet.org/10.1080/13607863.2012.743963

General Effects

Can improve mood. Most often when someone is in need of a boost of self-esteem.

"However, even participants who are in a relativley happy mood may prefer to make downward comparisons to maintain or improve their mood." (Wood, Michela, & Giordano, [71])

Can be used as motivation for the future if changes are not made.

Example of non-mood related construct:

A mentally handicapped person in your presence can boost personal rating and life satisfaction levels.

Yip, J. J., & Kelly, A. E. (2013). Upward and downward social comparisons can decrease prosocial behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 43(3), 591–602. https://doi-org.proxy16.noblenet.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2013.01039.x

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