Social comparison and negative self-evaluations: An application to depression

Abstract

It is proposed here that distorted views of self may arise and be maintained by certain social cognitions and perceptions. In particular, social comparison processes are identified as potentially important links between the social environment and evaluations of self. Social comparisons can provide much useful information to an individual, but under some circumstances, may also be very damaging. As such, several components of the social comparison process are identified to determine possible individual differences which may constitute a predisposition to chronic negative self-evaluations. Of particular importance are characteristics of the self which may render social comparisons a threatening activity. Also examined are the kinds of attributes or dimensions chosen for comparison, and the nature of the reference others selected. Preliminary evidence is then presented which suggests that depressed individuals, and individuals thought to be at increased risk for developing depressive symptoms, may exhibit differences along these social comparison dimensions. These differences are further discussed in terms of their potential role in maintaining negative self-evaluations in individuals already depressed, and in giving rise to negative self-evaluations in proposed at-risk individuals. Finally, a cognitive vulnerability model of depression is presented to highlight the potentially important role of social comparison processes in both the etiology and maintenance of depression.