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A social comparison theory meta-analysis 60+ years on.

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People often prefer upward social comparisons, especially when not threatened, and contrast is the dominant reaction, significantly impacting self-perceptions of ability and affect.

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Area of Science:

  • Social Psychology
  • Meta-Analysis
  • Self-Perception Research

Background:

  • Social comparison theory explores how individuals evaluate themselves by comparing to others.
  • Decades of research have examined both the selection of comparison targets and the subsequent effects on self-evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To meta-analytically synthesize over 60 years of social comparison research.
  • To investigate target selection (upward, downward, lateral) and reaction (contrast, assimilation) to social comparisons.
  • To identify moderators and publication bias in social comparison effects.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted meta-analyses on published social comparison studies.
  • Analyzed selection preferences (upward vs. downward vs. lateral).
  • Examined reaction effects (contrast vs. assimilation) on self-evaluations, affect, and ability.

Main Results:

  • A strong preference for upward comparison was found when no threat was present; downward comparison was not dominant even when threatened.
  • Contrast was the predominant reaction, particularly affecting ability estimates and affect.
  • Moderator analyses indicated stronger contrast effects for ability and affect when comparing novel attributes or with dissimilar others.

Conclusions:

  • Social comparison predominantly leads to contrastive self-evaluations, especially concerning ability and affect.
  • While upward comparison is often preferred, it frequently results in self-deflating contrast.
  • Further research is needed on the psychological drivers of upward comparison despite negative self-evaluative outcomes.