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When comparisons arise

D T Gilbert1, R B Giesler, K A Morris

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin 78712, USA.

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|August 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Social comparisons for ability information are spontaneous. People often make nondiagnostic comparisons, even when aware they shouldn

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Area of Science:

  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Psychology

Background:

  • Individuals use social comparison to assess abilities.
  • Previous research indicates comparisons are restricted to diagnostic information sources.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether people spontaneously make nondiagnostic social comparisons.
  • To determine if diagnosticity is considered before or after comparisons are made.

Main Methods:

  • Two studies were conducted.
  • Participants engaged in social comparison tasks, including nondiagnostic ones.

Main Results:

  • Participants made nondiagnostic comparisons even when instructed not to.
  • Participants were able to mentally undo these nondiagnostic comparisons when possible.

Conclusions:

  • Social comparisons appear to be spontaneous, effortless, and unintentional.
  • These comparisons can occur even when logically inappropriate, suggesting a default cognitive process.