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Updated: Mar 11, 2026
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The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies
Published on: August 25, 2023
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Social comparison, personal relative deprivation, and materialism
Hyunji Kim1, Mitchell J Callan1, Ana I Gheorghiu1
1Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester, UK.
The British Journal of Social Psychology
|November 24, 2016
Summary
Personal relative deprivation (PRD), the feeling of being unfairly deprived compared to others, uniquely drives materialism. This resentment fuels a stronger desire for wealth and increased spending on possessions.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Materialism is a significant factor in consumer behavior and societal values.
- Personal relative deprivation (PRD) is a psychological state characterized by resentment over perceived unfair disadvantages compared to others.
- Understanding the psychological drivers of materialism is crucial for economic and social research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the unique contribution of personal relative deprivation (PRD) to materialistic values.
- To explore the mediating role of social comparison tendencies in the PRD-materialism link.
- To examine how PRD influences financial decision-making, including desires for wealth and spending patterns.
Main Methods:
- Five studies were conducted, employing self-report measures, experimental manipulations, and behavioral tasks.
- Methods included assessing PRD, materialistic values, social comparison tendencies, and financial preferences.
- Participants' responses to hypothetical and real-world financial scenarios were analyzed.
Main Results:
- PRD consistently predicted materialistic values, independent of other psychological factors like self-esteem and socioeconomic status.
- Social comparison tendencies mediated the relationship between PRD and materialism.
- Experimental manipulation showed that perceiving relative financial disadvantage increased desire for money over charitable giving and led to increased discretionary spending.
Conclusions:
- Personal relative deprivation is a distinct psychological predictor of materialism.
- The tendency to engage in social comparisons exacerbates the link between PRD and materialism.
- PRD significantly influences financial behaviors, promoting wealth accumulation and hedonic consumption over other financial goals.
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