Type Of Social Comparison Research Articles

When being recognized makes employees feel less appreciated: Evidence regarding when and why peer-to-peer recognition could backfire

Research links intangible employee outcomes with ultimate firm performance and business press suggests peer recognition systems can positively influence such employee outcomes, including the degree to which employees feel appreciated. We collect survey data at a company both pre and post the rollout of their public peer recognition system. Contrary to company expectations, employees felt less appreciated by their peers after system implementation. We then develop and experimentally test theory to better explain why this decline likely occurred. We find that two features of public peer recognition systems, public feeds and leaderboards, induce different types of social comparisons, and each have incrementally negative effects on the average feelings of appreciation among employees, even though, in isolation, peer recognition positively influences employees’ feelings of appreciation. These results help explain the findings from our field surveys and highlight that firms should carefully consider how the features of their peer recognition systems affect employees, as some features may unintentionally harm employee outcomes.

Examining the pathways of social comparison and achievement goals to academic grades among South Korean high school students

ABSTRACT Social comparison is prevalent, even within classrooms, yet limited research explores its impact on academic outcomes. The current study adopted social comparison theory and achievement goal theory and tested a structural equation model that explained the pathways among two types of social comparison (i.e. ability-based and opinion-based), achievement goals, self-efficacy, effort, and academic grades. Based on a sample of 398 high school students, the current study demonstrated associations between opinion-based social comparison and mastery goals and between ability-based social comparison and performance goals. Furthermore, the current study identified different pathways for the indirect effects of social comparison and achievement goals that contributed to academic grades. The findings yielded the learning-oriented pathways and the performance-oriented pathways. The learning-oriented pathways showed the connections among opinion-based social comparison, mastery-approach goals, internal learning capacities (i.e. self-efficacy and effort), and academic grades; whereas the performance-oriented pathways demonstrated the connections among ability-based social comparison, performance-approach goals, and academic grades. This study implies that having a balanced mind-set between learning-oriented and performance-oriented approaches would benefit students most. Parents and teachers can play pivotal roles in nurturing students to focus on their internal learning processes within the competitive environment. The implications of competition-based achievement in classrooms are discussed.

Examining social anxiety and dual aspects of social comparison orientation: the moderating role of self-evaluation of social skills.

Social comparison orientation comprises ability comparison, which entails superior and inferior ratings; and opinion comparison, which does not include such ratings. Previous research on negative emotions and the social rank theory of social anxiety indicates that social anxiety is positively associated with ability comparison. This is particularly true of individuals with a stronger sense of inferiority (e.g., lower self-evaluation of their social skills). Nevertheless, the relationship between the two aspects of social comparison orientation and social anxiety remains unclear. Two hundred thirty-eight individuals (Mage = 40.53 ± 9.78 years, 50.4% men) participated in an online cross-sectional survey questionnaire. Social anxiety was positively correlated with ability comparison but not opinion comparison. The relationship between social anxiety in situations observed by others and ability comparison was stronger for individuals with lower (vs. higher) self-rated social skills. This study showed that the two types of social comparison are differentially related to social anxiety. The findings support the social rank theory of social anxiety, which states that social comparisons involving superior and inferior ratings lead to social anxiety owing to the perception of one's inferiority. Making such social comparisons can result in heightened social anxiety, particularly for individuals with low self-evaluations of social skills. The results indicate the importance of these social comparisons in the emergence and persistence of social anxiety. Furthermore, the potential of interventions based on mindfulness, compassion, social media, and video feedback in mitigating the negative effects of such social comparisons is discussed.

The longitudinal association between narcissism and problematic social networking sites use: The roles of two social comparison orientations

The present study aimed to explore whether the tendency to compare one’s abilities and opinions to those of others (social comparison orientation) could longitudinally mediate the association between narcissism and problematic SNS use. A total of 1,196 college students were assessed at three time points over 22 months. The results showed that narcissism at time 1 was positively related to problematic SNS use at time 3 and that ability comparison at time 2 longitudinally mediated the association between narcissism at time 1 and problematic SNS use at time 3, whereas the longitudinal mediating effect of opinion comparison at time 2 was not significant. These findings suggest that narcissism more distally and ability comparison more proximally may be risk factors for engaging in problematic SNS use, and it is important to distinguish between types of social comparisons in problematic SNS use behaviors.

Social comparison and problematic social media use: Relationships between five different social media platforms and three different social comparison constructs

Almost four billion people worldwide use social media platforms. For some individuals, the social rewards obtained on these sites can lead to problematic social media use (PSMU). Research attempting to understand social media use in general has found relationships with various types of social comparison, but no study has yet investigated PSMU with respect to specific platforms and type of social comparison. To address this, we conducted an online survey (n = 601) to assess how three different trait constructs of social comparison (comparison of abilities, comparison of opinions, comparison directionality) relate to the problematic use of five social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Twitter). While controlling for demographic characteristics and total number of social media platforms used, linear regression models revealed different associations between problematic use of each platform depending on trait social comparison type. Overall, comparison of abilities was positively related with PSMU of all five platforms, whereas comparison of opinions was negatively related with PSMU of only Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. However, social comparison directionality was not significantly related with PSMU. Results, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Academic Social Comparison and Depression in Chinese Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction

Whether and how social comparison exacerbates or guards against depression in adolescents is an important issue. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of academic social comparison with adolescent depression and the mediating role of basic psychological needs satisfaction. The results derived from a sample of 1348 Chinese adolescents revealed that upward contrast was positively and indirectly associated with depression in that it negatively predicted satisfaction of the needs for competence and relatedness. Moreover, downward identification was positively and indirectly associated with depression in that it negatively predicted satisfaction of the need for competence. Finally, upward identification and downward contrast were negatively associated with depression indirectly in that they positively predicted satisfaction of the needs for competence and relatedness. These findings indicate the distinct associations of four types of social comparison with adolescent depression and the mediating role of basic psychological needs satisfaction in linking them. Implications and limitations were also discussed.

The Role of Subjective and Objective Social Status in the Generation of Envy.

Envy is a negative emotion experienced in response to another person’s higher status. However, little is known about the composition of its most important element: status. The present research investigates the two main forms of social status (objective and subjective) in the generation of envy. In Study 1, participants recounted real-life situations when they felt envious; in Study 2 we examined whether the effect was the same in a controlled situation. We consistently found that those who were the most respected in the eyes of others were envied more than the richest ones. Furthermore, perceived deservingness of the superior other’s success differentiated between benign and malicious envy. Although previous studies focused on material comparisons when investigating envy, our results indicate that envy is rather a subjective social status related emotion. Not material, but social advantage of the superior other causes the most painful envy and future studies should put more emphasis on this type of social comparison in envy research.

Transitions in loneliness in later life: the role of social comparisons and coping strategies

AbstractThis study explored the coping strategies and social comparisons used by older adults on different loneliness trajectories (decreased loneliness, stable loneliness and degenerating loneliness). The adaptive consequences of social comparison in later life are recognised as an important strategy for preserving life satisfaction regardless of age-related losses. Coping strategies are also important in managing loneliness. Narrative interviews were conducted with lonely older adults (N = 11) who had participated in Wave One of the Maintaining Function and Well-being in Later Life Study Wales (CFAS Wales). The study found key differences in the coping strategies employed by older adults on different loneliness trajectories. Differences in coping styles between those who reported decreased loneliness and those who were chronically lonely stemmed from perceptions as to whether loneliness was modifiable or not. Different types of social comparison were also found to modulate the loneliness experience. The findings indicate that higher-order strategies (problem, emotional and meaning focused) are not distinct entities but are part of a dynamic process. The management of loneliness in later life may be dependent on several factors, including older adults’ interpretations of the cause of loneliness. These interpretations will have implications for interventions aimed at alleviating chronic loneliness, where the focus may have to be on changing older adult's perceptions of unmodifiable loneliness.

Social comparison in the brain: A coordinate-based meta-analysis of functional brain imaging studies on the downward and upward comparisons.

Social comparison is ubiquitous across human societies with dramatic influence on people's well-being and decision making. Downward comparison (comparing to worse-off others) and upward comparison (comparing to better-off others) constitute two types of social comparisons that produce different neuropsychological consequences. Based on studies exploring neural signatures associated with downward and upward comparisons, the current study utilized a coordinate-based meta-analysis to provide a refinement of understanding about the underlying neural architecture of social comparison. We identified consistent involvement of the ventral striatum and ventromedial prefrontal cortex in downward comparison and consistent involvement of the anterior insula and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex in upward comparison. These findings fit well with the "common-currency" hypothesis that neural representations of social gain or loss resemble those for non-social reward or loss processing. Accordingly, we discussed our findings in the framework of general reinforcement learning (RL) hypothesis, arguing how social gain/loss induced by social comparisons could be encoded by the brain as a domain-general signal (i.e., prediction errors) serving to adjust people's decisions in social settings. Although the RL account may serve as a heuristic framework for the future research, other plausible accounts on the neuropsychological mechanism of social comparison were also acknowledged. Hum Brain Mapp 39:440-458, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Implications of Self Concept in Communication Behavior of Retarded Children

In reality, the retarded children has a very sensitive position in the formation process of self-concept that works on their communication behavior in the social environment. This research article aims to express the implications of self-concept of behavior in both verbal communication and nonverbal communication of retarded children when they are interacting in a social environment. This research uses the qualitative method with symbolic interaction approach. The findings of the research indicate a positive self-concept of retarded children with the type of social comparison will have implications for their behavior of verbal communication become active and nonverbal communication become responsive. In reverse , negative self-concept of retarded children with the type of self-appraisal will have implications on verbal communication behavior become not optimally developed and nonverbal communication unresponsive.

Emotional Responses to Social Comparisons in Reality Television Programming

Abstract. In recent years, the viewing of reality television has become increasingly prevalent among television audiences. However, little is known about the psychological processes at work when viewing these programs. This study examined how social comparisons to cast members influenced emotional responses to reality television programming. Participants (N = 231) were cued with a specific comparison target group and placed in a situation of self-image enhancement or threat. Afterwards, participants watched a clip from a reality television program and then reported their emotional reactions to it. The manipulations of comparison target group and self-image affected both the direction of social comparisons made and their associated emotional responses. Participant gender also influenced social comparisons to the cast members and resulting emotional responses to the content. Although we were unable to compare the social comparison-related emotional responses to reality programs with those of scripted programs, the results of this study bring to bear the associations between specific emotional responses and the types of social comparisons that take place when watching reality television programming.

A qualitative study exploring patients’ experiences of standard care or cardiac rehabilitation post minor stroke and transient ischaemic attack

Objective: To explore individuals’ experiences of receiving either standard care or comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation post minor stroke or transient ischaemic attack. Design: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews, alongside a randomized controlled trial, exploring the effectiveness of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation compared with standard care. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic analysis. Setting: Individuals’ homes. Subjects: People who have experienced a minor stroke or transient ischaemic attack and who were partaking in a secondary prevention randomized controlled trial (6–7 months post the event, 17 males, five females; mean age 67 years). Interventions: Not relevant. Main measures: Not relevant. Results: Four themes were identified: information delivery, comparing oneself with others, psychological impact, attitudes and actions regarding risk factor reduction. Participants indicated a need for improved information delivery, specific to their own risk factors and lifestyle changes. Many experienced psychological impact as a result of their minor stroke. Participants were found to make two types of social comparison; the comparison of self to another affected by stroke, and the comparison of self to cardiac patients. Conclusion: Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation was reported to have positive effects on people’s motivation to exercise. Following a minor stroke, many individuals do not recall information given or risk factors specific to them. Downward comparison with individuals who have had a cardiovascular event led to some underplaying the significance of their minor stroke.

Social Comparison and Information Transmission in the Work Context

In the workplace, people can experience various types of failure and frustrations resulting in spontaneous social comparisons with other colleagues who are more (upward comparison) or less (downward comparison) successful. Upward comparisons especially have been shown to increase envy toward the outperforming benchmark colleague, which could negatively affect social interaction with this colleague. In line with this, our results consistently show that upward comparisons are associated with higher levels of experienced envy, as well as with a lower transmission rate of high‐quality information. By contrast, type of social comparison had no impact on the amount of transmitted low‐quality, work‐relevant information. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Social Comparison in Everyday Life and the Cultural View of Self

A number of 2880 respondents, devided into six age groups, answered a questionnaire used to measure various aspects of social comparison in everyday life (frequencies, target objects and persons, reasons of engagement in comparison). Subjects belonging to the adolescent (N= 705) and middle-aged (N= 613) groups were administered also scales for measuring the cultural view of self. Hayashi's theory of quantification applied to the comparison responses revealed two types of social comparison: internal/self-directed comparison and the external/other-directed comparison. The adolescent group were found to engage in comparison most frequently, especially in the external/other-directed comparison. This tendency was found most prominently among respondents with high interdependency score as measured by our scale. These results suggest that Japanese adolescent indify with the interdependent view of self to their self schema, mainly through the external/other-directed social comparison.

Computer Simulations of the Relation Between Individual Heuristics and Global Cooperation in Prisoner's Dilemmas

In this paper we explore the aggregate consequences of three simple individual choice rules in a simulated society in which the interaction between pairs of actors is constituted as a Pnsoner's Dilemma (PDG). After several simulations under different conditions, the most important conclusion is that in highly competitive PDG settings, using a competitive type of social comparison for performance evaluation, cooperative behavior is maintained in large groups. There remain, however, several findings that need further study before we better understand the relation between individual heuristics and their global consequences. Keywords: Prisoner's Dilemma, simulation, game theory, social comparison.

Ability Evaluation and Self-Evaluation as Types of Social Comparisons

An analysis of Festinger's theory of social comparison processes suggests that the comparison of abilities really involves two distinct processes. Ability evaluation involves determining how one stands relative to others in the performance of the ability. Self-evaluation involves determining how one ought to perform by comparing with others similar to oneself on attributes related to the ability. The results of an experiment indicate that these two components can be distinguished empirically as separate aspects of the social comparison process.

KOMUNIKASI VERBAL ABUSE ORANG TUA PADA REMAJA

The phenomenon that lately occurs and entrenched in the environment of Indonesian society in general and in particular in the District of Kerumutan, Pelalawan Regency, which considers that talking harshly, berating, yelling, scolding, threatening to children is normal. But parents should be able to give good examples to children by using language or words that are good and right. This condition can occur where parents do not really understand and do not know that the verbal ability possessed by parents in communicating with children will be directly absorbed by children and form a sustainable behavior.Results Self-concept owned by teenagers in Kec. Kerumutan Kab. Pelalawan is influenced by significant others. Where, adolescent self-concept in Kec. Kerumutan Kab. Pelalawan is a negative self-concept that is the type of social comparison and Biased scannin. The negative self-concept of social comparision type is of the view that it is indeed like what is said by others so that the view of itself really looks irregular because the self-concept formed is influenced by others. While the negative self-concept is Biased scannin type. Shown from the attitude of adolescents that he tends to feel unliked by his parents and feel unnoticed. Reflected Appraisal states that a person's self-concept will be formed if he gets an award from someone else. Where, the giver of appreciation and the amount of appreciation received by a person will determine the degree of self-concept that is formed. Appreciation from people who are considered important to someone (significant others such as: parents, friends, relatives, etc.) also provide a very big influence on the development of self-concept.