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Dare to Compare: Fact-Based versus Simulation-Based Comparison in Daily Life.
Amy Summerville1, Neal J Roese
1University of Illinois.
Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
|May 5, 2009
Summary
People frequently engage in comparative thinking, including social, counterfactual, and temporal comparisons. Imagined comparisons, like counterfactuals, are more often upward, driving self-improvement.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Comparative thought is a common cognitive process.
- Understanding the types and functions of daily comparisons is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the frequency of social, counterfactual, past-temporal, and future-temporal comparisons.
- To investigate the directionality (upward vs. downward) and motivational focus (approach vs. avoidance) of these comparisons.
Main Methods:
- Experience-sampling method using palmtop computers over two weeks.
- Participants recorded thought samples when randomly prompted.
Main Results:
- Comparative thought constituted 12% of all thoughts.
- All four comparison types occurred with equivalent frequency.
- Simulation-based comparisons (counterfactual, future-temporal) were more upward than fact-based comparisons (social, past-temporal).
- Most comparisons focused on approach motives, except counterfactuals which equally focused on approach and avoidance.
Conclusions:
- Comparative thought is a prominent aspect of daily cognition.
- An integrative theory is needed to explain social, counterfactual, and temporal comparisons.
- Upward, simulation-based comparisons may play a significant role in self-improvement.
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