Free Essay

Social Comparison

In:

Submitted By annabel
Words 1442
Pages 6
Social Comparison and Temporal Life Satisfaction In his theory of social comparison, Festinger (1954) identified the idea that human beings have the drive to look at others in order to evaluate their own opinions and abilities. Social comparison is categorized into two forms, namely downward and upward. Downward comparison occurs when an individual compares to others who are deemed as socially worse off, while upward social comparison acts in the opposite direction. Over the years, there have been various studies on the directional effects of both upward and downward comparison on an individual’s self evaluation. According to Suls, Martin, & Wheeler (2002), both downward and upward comparison can lead to people viewing their situations in a more positive way. Another research study by Buunk, Collins, Taylor, VanYperen, & Dakof (1990), showed that downward comparison evoked a fear in individuals about ending up in the same situation as their less fortunate comparisons. In return, the fear of “it could also happen to me” made people have a lower level of life satisfaction. Despite the various comprehensive researches done thus far, there is still no clear conclusion on the exact impact and effect of social comparison on an individual’s evaluation of his or her own attributes and attitudes and abilities. This is even more applicable to college students who are constantly evaluating their personal abilities and opinions by making comparisons to their peers. The type of social comparison chosen, namely the upward or downward conditions, might then play a significant role in impacting the level of temporal life satisfaction. Hence, this study aims to investigate the effect of the type of social comparison, downward or upward, on temporal life satisfaction. That is, to determine which type of social comparison, upward or downward, would have a more positive effect on life satisfaction. As such, the problem identified for this research project is:

The result from this study is aimed at raising awareness amongst NTU students about the effects of social comparison on life satisfaction. With better knowledge of the related effects of upward and downward comparison, the students would then know how to better motivate themselves by choosing the more appropriate reference comparison in order to achieve greater temporal life satisfaction. In order to investigate if downward or upward comparison leads to greater life satisfaction, the following hypotheses are tested:

In this report, a one-tailed independent t-test will be conducted to determine if there is significant support for the prediction that downward comparison leads to higher temporal life satisfaction as compared to upward comparison. On top of which, a few terms are first properly defined to prevent any ambiguity and uncertainty throughout the length of the report. As such, downward and upward social comparison are defined as comparing oneself to a target who is deemed socially worse off or better off, respectively. In addition, total life satisfaction refers to the past, present and future life satisfaction, which is measured by the 15-item Temporal Satisfaction with Life Scale (TSWLS) by Pavot, Diener and Suh (1998).
Assumptions
We list down the assumptions that we have made for the study to be as such: 1. The participants of the questionnaire are representative of the NTU student population. 2. The upward and downward comparison treatments done in the study were effective conditions that allow participants to be upwardly and downwardly compared respectively.

The Questionnaire Study
Method
Overview Participants were asked to fill up a computerized questionnaire individually during their respective tutorial timeslots. They were informed that the questionnaire was meant as a form of data collection for one of their curriculum modules. In order to generate upward and downward social comparison respectively, the participants were made to read a short paragraph describing the life of a female individual, to which they were to compare their lives to, at the start of the questionnaire. This was to subject participants to two forms of social comparison without their knowledge. The participants were then given a questionnaire to complete. The questionnaire is meant to measure the level of satisfaction that participants feel about their lives in the past, current and future. They had no knowledge about the purpose of the experiment, other than being informed that the responses would be used for their current research project.
Participants

In total, 133 participants took part in the experiment. The sample group was made up of undergraduates who were pursuing different majors in Nanyang Technological University (NTU). They were young adults in the age group between 18 to 24 years old, and consisted of members from both genders. The demographic breakdown of the participants into their gender and majors is shown as Table 1 in the Appendix. As seen from the table, majority of the participants (54.9%) were pursuing a degree in Psychology at the point of the experiment, while the remaining came from a mixture of other faculties. Apart from which, the sample size of female participants also greatly outnumbered that of the male participants, with 89 females and 44 males participating in the study.
Procedure
The experiment was conducted during the different tutorial lessons. As the participants reported to class during their respective tutorial timeslots, they were ushered to different computers randomly. Upon which, the independent variable, which were the two treatments, were also administered to the participants at random. To subject participants to the two treatments, the experimenters had previously prepared a short write-up on the life of a 18 year old female adult, Kee. In the group that was subjected to upward comparison as the independent variable, they were assigned to read on the life of Kee as an intelligent female undergraduate who graduated from high school with perfect grades. She comes from a wealthy family in New York City and is a current student at Yale University with a full scholarship grant. For the other group which underwent downward comparison, participants were given the short story of Kee, as a girl from a remote farming village in central China with little education. In order to survive, she had to work as a maid away from her home village, earning an equivalent of SG$5 a day. To ensure that social comparison was attained and that participants would give due consideration to the differing lifestyles, both treatment groups were asked to think about the differences between their lives and that of Kee’s. They were then asked to type out their views on the computer in the form of a short-answer question. Immediately after the treatments, participants were provided a series of statements on their individual computers with which they could agree or disagree. The questionnaire was a replication of the Temporal Satisfaction with Life Scale, which measured people’s level of satisfaction with life in the past and present, and also how they perceive their future satisfaction to be. The questionnaire consisted of 15 statements, with 5 statements dedicated to each of the 3 different timeframes. Participants were to make their responses based on a Likert scale of 1 to 7, with 1 representing strong disagreement and 7 representing strong agreement to the statements. After filling up the questionnaire, participants were then allowed to leave, while the experimenters went on to consolidate the results in both MS Excel and SPSS for future statistical analyses.
Results
In order to generate the statistical analysis, an independent T-test was generated using the SPSS software. Referring back to the hypothesis, we have to first determine that the downward comparison treatment resulted in a higher temporal life satisfaction mean compared to that from the upward comparison. After which, we need to determine if the difference between the two means are significantly different. As the means for both treatment groups are deemed to be independent of each other, the independent t-test was chosen. If the t-test shows significant results, the null hypothesis would then be rejected and the alternative accepted. Table 2 of the Appendix presents the mean levels of how the effects of upward and downward social comparison had affected the participants’ level of life satisfaction. As seen from the table, participants who were subjected to the downward comparison responded more positively and gave higher ratings of their total life satisfaction (MD=4.6505, SD=0.94638) in the survey. In comparison, participants who were put through the treatment of upward comparison subsequently gave lower ratings (MU = 4.1862, SD=0.83757) when surveyed about their total life satisfaction. Hence, we can conclude that downward comparison will lead to higher total life satisfaction as compared to upward comparison (MD>MU, 4.6505>4.1862), and this difference is significant [t (131) = 2.982 > t-critical), p

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Comparison of Social Media Tools

...Comparison of Social Network Analysis Tools What is Social Network :? Social network is a social structure made up of many actors, for example firms, or people which are all tied up in relationships, connections, or interactions(1). The social network perspective is made up to employ the structure of a social group, how they interact with each other, how this structure has an influence on other variables and how it changes as time passes. What is Social Networking Analysis? Social network analysis is the mapping and measuring of all the factors that make up the social network, it is the measuring of relationships and flows between people, groups, organizations, computers, URL, and other connected information entries(3). The nodes in the network are represented as people and the links show their direct relationships with each other. To have deeper understanding of networks and their participants , we evaluate the location of actors in the network which basically means finding the centrality of a node . These measures give us insight into the various roles and groupings in a network -- who are the connectors, mavens, leaders, bridges, isolates, where are the clusters and who is in them, who is in the core of the network, and who is on the periphery? In order to evaluate and understand these networks and the relationships between their actors we use social network analysis tools. We will be discussing three different SNA tools, compare between them, talk about their...

Words: 1454 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Fddfsdfsd Fsfsdffs

...things: two texts, two theories, two historical figures, two scientific processes, and so on. "Classic" compare-and-contrast papers, in which you weight A and B equally, may be about two similar things that have crucial differences (two pesticides with different effects on the environment) or two similar things that have crucial differences, yet turn out to have surprising commonalities (two politicians with vastly different world views who voice unexpectedly similar perspectives on sexual harassment). In the "lens" (or "keyhole") comparison, in which you weight A less heavily than B, you use A as a lens through which to view B. Just as looking through a pair of glasses changes the way you see an object, using A as a framework for understanding B changes the way you see B. Lens comparisons are useful for illuminating, critiquing, or challenging the stability of a thing that, before the analysis, seemed perfectly understood. Often, lens comparisons take time into account: earlier texts, events, or historical figures may illuminate later ones, and vice versa. Faced with a daunting list of seemingly unrelated similarities and differences, you may feel confused about how to construct a paper that isn't just a mechanical exercise in which you first state all the features that A and B have in common, and then state all the ways in which A and B are different. Predictably, the thesis of such a paper is usually an assertion that A and B are very similar yet not so similar after all...

Words: 1300 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Term

...thirties, as well as menopausal and post-menopausal women. Of course, American females take the information differently depending on age, life experiences, and where they are in their lives. Today we will examine the influence the media (TV, print, the Internet, and advertising) has on the American female's feelings toward her place in society, as well as her sexuality, self-esteem and body image, and physical health. The media is a pervasive and ever present entity in the lives of Americans. It has a strong influence on females and seems to bring meaning to their everyday lives. Social Comparison Theory posits that "people will (at some point in their lives) compare themselves and significant others to people and images whom they perceive to represent realistic goals to attain" (2005). We look to the media to help us explain the world around us. Without always knowing it, we make automatic comparisons of ourselves and situations in our lives after seeing images either on TV or in magazines. Then we are motivated to attain these goals and expectations the world has now put on...

Words: 304 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Project

...major public and private concerns’ of society. This intricate set of frameworks is often developed and maintained by a set group of individuals.  Celebrities, models, and athletes often lead the way when determining basic guidelines for acceptable practices in society.  The influence of these individuals, specifically celebrities, can be seen most often in younger generations.  As young adults mature, they begin to develop a strong sense of independence.  With this new found self-identity, many adolescents look to media outlets for guidance in establishing social norms and behaviors.              It is extremely evident that media outlets have the power to create meaning. Image advertisements in particular have the power to create a set of frames that perpetuate ideological hegemony. Ideology is a culmination of social beliefs and values that are upheld by members of society.  Hegemony is the power or dominance that one social group holds over others (Lull, 1995).   Ideological hegemony is a concept that describes an intertwined system of everyday realities that are created by dominant individuals.  As a result, ideological hegemony can often go undetected by common members of society.             For example, ideological hegemony can be detected in image advertisements. Gender stereotypes and dominant norms are often perpetuated in daily advertisements. Clothing advertisers often feature young women and men and exaggerate potential sexual relationships. This could indicate the...

Words: 1510 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Self-Esteem

...Instead of taking the constructive criticism, self evaluating, looking at the positives and applying it to better herself, she chose to view it all in a negative fashion and express herself with negative aggression. Three Theories of Self Concept Maintenance Researchers have examined several ways in which individuals actively maintain their sense of self in what can be termed “ self-concept maintenance” (Crisp and Turner, 2010, p. 10). There are three theories in relation to this I wish to discuss, self-evaluation maintenance, the social comparison theory, and finally the control theory of self-regulation. Let’s start by defining each of the three self-concept theories. Self-evaluation maintenance refers to the theory that one’s self-concept can be threatened by another individual’s behavior and that the level of threat is determined by both the closeness of the other individual and the personal relevance of the behavior. The Social comparison theory was a theory initially proposed by psychologist Leon Festinger in 1954, it centers on how individuals evaluate their own opinions and abilities by comparing themselves to others in order to reduce uncertainty in these areas and learn how to define themselves. Finally, the control...

Words: 987 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Figurative Languages

...Figurative Language versus Literal Language Joe Doe Professor PHI 210 Figurative language can sometimes be misused or misconstrued, which makes it difficult for thinking to be productive. With that being said, understanding the meaning and function of a term can be vital when communication occurs. Providing an example for each term will make it easier to understand how the term can be used in a sentence. Discussing circumstances for using the specific term and when it could lead to a misunderstanding will show how the term can be used in the day-to-day world and will also show how the term can be misused. The terms that will be discussed are: idiom, analogy, metaphor, simile, cliché, amphiboly, “flame word”, hyperbole, euphemism and colloquialism. An idiom is two or more words that give a different meaning than that of the literal meaning. According to Webster’s New World (2011), idioms are used often to replace a literal word or expression, and many times the idiom better describes the full nuance of meaning. The major function of an idiom is to translate the literal meaning of the words to a different meaning. Many times, the popular use of the term is what makes it easy to understand. An example of an idiom would be “break a leg,” which in translation means to wish someone good luck. An appropriate circumstance for using “break a leg” would be before a performer is going on stage. A misunderstanding could occur if someone were to take the term literal...

Words: 1379 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Online Shopping vs. Traditional Shopping

...towns. There are advantages and disadvantages to both types of shopping, it really depends on which aspects are more important to you and what works best for your lifestyle. I personally prefer shopping online for its convenience and the wider ability to price compare. There are still many things about traditional shopping that are appealing, however, such as being able to try items of clothing on and to see the item before purchasing. Shopping online can be very convenient, there’s no need to get in your car, drive to a store or the mall, park and walk around looking for what you need. Some people enjoy the act of shopping, and for them it can be more about the social aspect of it than what can be the tedious act of searching for something they need. You are able to do a wider variety of price comparisons by shopping online, with a few clicks of your computer mouse you can not only find what you’re looking for, you can compare prices from hundreds of stores around the globe. In traditional shopping you would have to search different stores to be able to do the price comparing you can do online. One of the downfalls of online shopping is the inability to possess the item or product immediately. If you need something to use or wear within the next couple days than online shopping probably won’t be the best option for you. When you order products online they have to be shipped to you, which can take 2-10 days, generally speaking. I do however enjoy things arriving directly...

Words: 534 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Compare and Contrast Essay

...Sister Flowers / Someone’s Mother In this essay we will discuss the comparison and contrast of two stories, Sister Flowers and Someone’s Mother. One of the easiest comparisons is that both of these stories were written in the first person by the authors. In Sister Flowers the author tells a tale of the struggle she had dealing with a traumatic event. In the same way, Someone’s Mother tells of the struggle the author had in leaving an elderly woman lost and alone. Also, both stories show a person’s genuine concern to help someone in need. Sister Flowers deals with a woman helping a child to find her voice in life. Likewise, Someone’s Mother shares the story of a woman who helps a hitchhiker who has seemed to have lost her way. Though both stories showed similarities they also were different in many ways. One of the ways in which the two stories contrast is that both took place in different parts of the country and in different eras. Sister Flowers is set in Arkansas in around the 30’s; however, Someone’s Mother was further north in New York and took place in 2007. Another difference between the stories was they both had different agendas. Someone’s Mother was more of a story dealing with the characters compassion. In Sister Flowers you felt the story leaning more towards the inner struggle of the character. In conclusion, you can see that there are many similarities as well as differences in these stories. Both were thoroughly enjoyable and should be recommended for all to...

Words: 268 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Comparing Online Shopping with Traditional Shopping

...the opportunity to search for the product they want through endless avenues. Online shopping has grown so large that many companies are not investing in buildings and mall space, rather in online websites and web advertising. Through this paper I will discuss the reasons why shopping online is a better alternative to traditional shopping. The first benefit of online shopping is the convenience. While others are out fighting traffic and waiting in lines, online shoppers are home relaxing. Online shoppers can go from store to store with a flick of a mouse, while traditional shoppers have to walk, drive or can’t get to the stores they want. Online shoppers also benefit when it comes to comparison shopping. Traditional shoppers have to put a lot of work into comparison shopping. They have to drive from place to place find items and price and go onto the next place. This can be exhausting and stressful. The online shopper can do this from his or her couch. Online shoppers can search the planet for the product they are looking for, while traditional shoppers are limited to a small area. When it comes to seeing, touching, and trying out a new product, there is no substitute for actually going to the mall and examining the item in person. You cannot always tell what the merchandise is really like by seeing a picture of it on the Web. The color may be somewhat different online than it appears in real life. The exact size and proper fit may be critical when...

Words: 606 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Descriptive Writing

...Over a certain period of time I will be studying a child under the age of 5. I will be visiting the child every 2 weeks for a couple of weeks to see how they physically develop. I will be looking at their gross and fine motor skills of the child. Every visit I will be doing something new like painting, playing catch or going to the park etc. I will look at her normal routines of her everyday life. I will take pictures and collect information from every visit so I can use it as evidence. Every visit I will be looking at their height, weight and teeth to see how they develop over the period of time. After I have done all the visits I will go over what I have done and evaluate what I have found out and compare them to an average child the same age as them and see if they are developing quicker or slower to an average child. The method I will be using to collect my information will include the internet to look at the norms, books and during the visits while I will be observing the child. In the visits I will make it fun by putting fun activites for the child to so I can work on their fine and gross motor skills to see how they are improving every visit. With the information I collect I will be evaluating after all my visits and seeing how the child has improved over a couple of months. I will aslo be comparing the child to the norms that I have found from the internet and...

Words: 277 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Copy

...are affected most by comparison shopping on mobile platforms? Explain. 1. All stages can be considered affected less or more. In my opinion, most affected stages are: Internal information gathering – eBay application provides consumer with basic information like brand name, color, price, size, location, shipping cost, etc. After comparing this information consumer supposedly will make a rough choice to get more info or refine search by certain criteria. Evaluation of alternatives – is the most affected and difficult stage for consumer. At this point all options needs to be compared: one seller can be more competitive pricewise but shipping will take longer time due to location of the product, another has a better feedback and accepts every known method of payment but has lower amount of days after product will be accepted back or do not accept returns, etc. Purchase of product also can be considered as affected stage. Before actual payment, some sellers can only ask for desired quantity and get consumer directly to the payment page but some can ask for available coupons or gift cards. However, I think this stage has very limited possibilities compared to full site version. 2. Based on the goal expressed by Steve Yancovich, which stage of the consumer decision-making process is eBay trying to influence? How are they doing so? 2. I think eBay trying to influence need recognition stage. Company created a mobile application with a lot of comparison options allowing users...

Words: 300 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Effects of Boy-Girl Relationship

... Service Date Section: BSAct2A Group Group Members: * Atendido, Andrea * Cruz, Shaneen * Deximo, Layrose * Senas, Rubi I. Evaluation for the topic a. Strength The topics were suitable for their age and level which makes it easier for them to understand and comprehend. You can see their interest and eagerness to learn and answer our questions and quizzes. b. Problems Encountered All I can see is when the students start comparing their answers while on activity, these cases are unavoidable but we find ways to stop them from doing that like asking them if they are sure on their answers. c. Recommendations Be strictly involved with the students especially while taking their activity because comparison can lead to copying the answer of each other. II. Evaluation for the LA Students a. Strength They prepared a topic that fits to their age and made very comprehendible visuals. They taught the students their topics with clarity and certainty. b. Problems Encountered The students comprehend well but due to doubt they always compare their answers with each other or ask us for it when they can do it on their own. They are afraid to make mistakes and have the lowest score. c. Recommendations They should still asses the students while taking up the quizzes to avoid them comparing their answers. They should make sure that they evaluate the results of the students. III. Evaluation for the School / Community a....

Words: 695 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Ecet110 Lab 1

...Requirements ….……………………………………………….. 4 4. Theory ………………………………………………………………….. 5 5. Multisim Simulation Results …………………………..………………………. 5 6. Experimental Procedure ………………………………………………… 6 7. Analysis of Results ..……………..…………………………………….. 6 8. Troubleshooting ….……..…………………………………………….. 6 9. Conclusion ..……………………………..…………………………….. 6 List of Figures 1. Resistor Circuit Schematic .………………………………….. 5 2. Multisim Simulation Circuit ………………………………………….. 6 3. Simulation circuit ..…. ………………………………………….. 7 List of Tables 1. Theoretical Analysis Results ………………………………………….. 5 2. Simulation Results …………………………………………………….. 6 3. Experimental Results …….…………………………………………….. 7 4. Results Comparison …………………………………………………… 8 Project Objectives When putting resistors in series, we can use this experiment to prove Kirchoff’s Voltage Law and Ohm’s Law by comparing our theoretical values to the Experimental values. System Requirements Equipment and Material Equipment: Macbook Air with the Citrix receiver software DC Power Supply
 DMM (Digital Multimeter) Software: Multisim Version 13 Parts: 3 – 1.0 kΩ Resistor 1 – 2.2 kΩ Resistor 1 – 6.8 kΩ Resistor Breadboard and hookup wires Theory The circuit to be analyzed is shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 Resistor Inductor Circuit Schematic Table 1 Resistor Inductor Theoretical Analysis Multisimulation Results Simulate using MultiSim V8. ...

Words: 291 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Bonnie and Clyde vs Breathless

...scurry to catch up. As if to openly state it’s a relationship to Godard’s film, Bonnie and Clyde replicates the scene in Breathless where Michel and Patricia hide from the police in a movie theater, the onscreen dialogue offering ironic counterpoint to the characters’ situation. There’s even an odd reference near the film’s end, when the lens in Clyde’s sunglasses pops loose, just as Belmondo’s does in Breathless. But by comparing two lead characters from each movie you find major contrasts. On Characteristics alone you have some similarities: Both Clyde and Michel are trying to fulfill the dapper gangster look, by wearing suits and fedoras and fancy sunglasses. The comparisons go deeper than that as well, but more specifically the fact that they both rely on a strong female character for support is a major comparison. Although, with that, it brings to light one of the biggest contrasts: how different each of the lead male character’s relationship with the lead female character is. Michel is a more of a playboy and will lay with nearly anyone he can make a quick buck on. But with Patricia who he has slept with before, one starts to believe that he may actually felt a connection with her. Whereas when Clyde met Bonnie he immediately noticed her beauty and how she was a person who he must have around him. So, with both men finding a love interest, what could be so drastically different? Michel wants to be with patricia but above all he just really wants to sleep with her again...

Words: 404 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Compare Contrast

...Compare Contrast Paper How is it that things so different can be so similar at the same time. Its really quite an amazing thing if you look at it. One of these amazing comparisons is the one between night and day. Such simple things constantly flying by use but rarely admired for what they hold. They have many clear differences but they are more alike than you might think. Day is beautiful full of the light and warmth from the sun. The world is full of brilliant bright colors that draw you attention.The sky above is an amazing blue bright and inviting. The day is warm inviting bright and busy with everything going on. It's noisy everyone has a place to be something always has to be done. The world moves quickly through the day. Night on...

Words: 350 - Pages: 2