The Social Comparaison Theory | Leon Festinger| 1954 | Stanford University, California, USA
“Ooh! If only I could be like you. I can never be worse than they are. Do you also mention such words?”
There is always that super-intelligent student who is the brain of the class. Same, the one who pretends to be the cutest of all can’t lack. Then comes the talented, the fun-maker and I won’t finish the list. The people I have just described are usually references in their domain. They know they are better than others and I guess you are relating. Other average students in the class are just unseen, or they think so. As a result, they try to develop a noticeable skill and compare their popularity progress.
Leon Festinger was fascinated by this behavior in the 1950s and developed a theory: the social comparison theory. He postulated that we engage in this comparison process to establish a benchmark for accurate evaluations of ourselves. Let’s elaborate on an example:
You are a bright student, higher than average, but you are never the first in your class. Compared to the lower students you are extremely bright but, compared to the first of the class you feel less bright, far less bright. Festinger suggested that social comparison can be seen from different angles: downward and upward social comparison.
The downward comparison explains how we compare ourselves to others who are worse than us. Such downward comparisons are often centered on making ourselves feel better about our abilities or traits. We might not be great at something, but at least we are better off than someone else.
On the other hand, upward comparison explains how we compare ourselves with those we believe are better than us. These upward comparisons often focus on the desire to improve our current status or level of ability. We might compare ourselves to someone better off and look for ways that we can achieve similar results
In both cases, people use that for their person’s profits: for the former, it could be because of justifying your inadequacy by comparing how you failed with a greater failure from others, and for the latter, to always improve in personal abilities, seeks for the best and achieve higher heights.
Is it people lower than us who will make us stay in our comfort zone? or do the people above make us give an all-out? Think about it; is it the best? We are the only ones to answer it. Let us question ourselves. However, remember that comparison is also disadvantageous. If you want to use it, you better study and master the limits.
Curated: Tamba Nathan
Edited: Tonlieu Alain
