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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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Self-esteem is intricately tied to our perception of competence and our ability to exert control over our lives. One of the primary sources of this perception is performance feedback — the ongoing evaluation of our actions in terms of success and failure. According to Franks and Marolla (1976), people derive self-worth from experiencing themselves as causal agents, capable of achieving goals and overcoming obstacles. This process nurtures a critical component of self-esteem:...
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Gender Differences in Aversion to Social Comparison Feedback.

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Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Social comparison feedback, while boosting motivation, causes more anxiety for women than men. This gender difference stems from lower competitiveness and greater concern for relationships among women.

Keywords:
anxietyfeedbackgendersocial comparison

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Social Psychology

Background:

  • Organizations frequently provide social comparison feedback to members.
  • Prior research indicates social comparison feedback enhances motivation and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the psychological costs of social comparison feedback.
  • To examine potential gender differences in responses to social comparison feedback.

Main Methods:

  • Six pre-registered studies were conducted.
  • Data were collected on participants' experiences with social comparison feedback, including aversion and anxiety levels.
  • Mechanisms such as competitiveness and relationship concerns were assessed.

Main Results:

  • Social comparison feedback was found to be more aversive and anxiety-inducing for women than for men.
  • This gender difference remained significant even after controlling for performance expectations and actual performance.
  • Women reported lower competitiveness and greater concern about social comparisons harming relationships compared to men.

Conclusions:

  • Social comparison feedback can have hidden psychological costs, particularly for women.
  • Gendered responses to feedback mechanisms need consideration in organizational settings.
  • Distinguishing between self-initiated and externally imposed comparisons is important for understanding feedback effects.