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Related Concept Videos

Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison01:27

Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison

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Social comparison plays a fundamental role in the evaluation of personal success and self-worth. Rather than assessing our achievements in isolation, we interpret their significance relative to personal goals and critically in comparison to the performance of others. A grade of B in a mathematics exam might elicit pride if one's expectation was a C, yet result in disappointment if an A was anticipated or if peers achieved superior results. These comparative evaluations illustrate how both...
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According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...
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Self-esteem, a central component of psychological well-being, is actively maintained through various cognitive and behavioral strategies. Individuals employ specific mechanisms to preserve a positive self-concept and mitigate threats to their self-worth, particularly in contexts involving social evaluation or personal feedback. Four primary techniques are commonly used to sustain self-esteem.Manipulating AppraisalsOne prominent strategy involves manipulating appraisals from others. Individuals...
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Not all intergroup interactions lead to negative outcomes. Sometimes, being in a group situation can improve performance. Social facilitation occurs when an individual performs better when an audience is watching than when the individual performs the behavior alone. This typically occurs when people are performing a task for which they are skilled.
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Goals and Social Comparisons Promote Walking Behavior.

Gretchen B Chapman1, Helen Colby2, Kimberly Convery1

  • 1Institute for Health, Healthcare Policy, and Aging Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA (GBC, KC)

Medical Decision Making : an International Journal of the Society for Medical Decision Making
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Summary

Setting higher walking goals and providing social comparison feedback significantly increased daily steps. A high walking goal led to more steps than a medium goal, and social comparison enhanced pedometer effectiveness.

Keywords:
behavior changegoalspedometerphysical activityreference pointsocial comparisonwalking

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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Economics
  • Social Psychology
  • Health Behavior Interventions

Background:

  • Pedometer interventions are common for increasing physical activity.
  • Effectiveness can be influenced by goal setting and social feedback.
  • Understanding these influences is key for optimizing health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how manipulated walking goals affect pedometer intervention effectiveness.
  • To examine the impact of social comparison feedback on pedometer use.
  • To apply principles from behavioral economics and social psychology to health behavior design.

Main Methods:

  • Study 1: University staff (n=148) assigned low, medium, or high walking goals (10-100% increase).
  • Study 2: Participants (n=64) received individual feedback or individual plus social comparison feedback.
  • Measured daily step counts as the primary outcome.

Main Results:

  • A high walking goal increased daily steps by 1358 compared to a medium goal (p < .001).
  • A medium goal did not significantly increase steps over a low goal.
  • Social comparison feedback increased daily steps by 1120 compared to individual feedback alone (p < .001).

Conclusions:

  • Both goal difficulty and social comparison significantly enhance pedometer intervention effectiveness.
  • Goals and peer performance serve as crucial reference points for behavior change.
  • Findings support the integration of behavioral economics and social psychology in designing health interventions.