Social Comparison and Learning From Others

Abstract

Using social comparison theory as an overarching perspective, we review the literature on learning from others’ experience. We examine how social referents are chosen, based on (1) different cues—structural, cognitive, affective, social, or external cues; and (2) different motivations—self-assessment, self-enhancement, or self-improvement. We highlight the usefulness of considering these cues for reference group selection, in predicting the likelihood, the type, and the level of learning. We describe several challenges in predicting learning outcomes based on motives alone. Taken together, we call for more understanding of different cues and bases of social comparison, alongside consideration of motivation, to better understand from whom actors can learn and what can be learned from them.