We often look at other people to determine and understand our achievements, abilities, and sometimes, even our worth. Think about how many times you have looked to a friend, colleague, or even a stranger and made comparisons.
The theory of Social Comparison was given by Leon Festinger in 1954. When he proposed this theory, it only included comparing our abilities and opinions, however, since then it has grown to include other things, such as success, emotions, and more. We engage in comparison, Festinger said, to evaluate whether we are good or correct and also to set goals for what we want to achieve.
Types of Comparisons-
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Upward Social Comparison- “She is so successful; I want to achieve that too”
Every time comparison takes place with someone who we believe is superior to, we are taking part in Upward Social Comparison.
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Downward Social Comparison- “At least my relationship isn’t so bad as my friend’s, I’m grateful about my relationship”
At times we compare ourselves with someone inferior to us. We may think of people or situations worse than us, thus engaging in Downward Social Comparison.
Potential Outcomes-
The outcomes of social comparison can be both positive and negative.
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Upward comparison- “My wife is so much better at managing her professional and personal life.”
Mostly, upward social comparison is motivating and uplifting, like in the above-mentioned example, the husband could be encouraged to improve. This comparison does not always help us move ahead. If the husband is stressed and feels inadequate, the comparison becomes detrimental.
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Downward Social Comparison- “My friend just got down with the Covid fever.”
Downward social comparison takes place when we observe someone who is in a worse situation than us. We typically assess our welfare compared to others. In this case, we may feel grateful for not having suffered due to the virus. We may also feel the threat and worry about our situation worsening.
What can we do?
For those who are transitioning in life, or want to know whether they are doing well, it is good to keep the following points in mind-
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Be mindful of your achievements
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Don’t discount the positives
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Count your blessings
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Practice gratitude
Importance of Professional Counseling: A friend or family member may listen to you, but they aren’t professionally, technically qualified or experienced to offer you professional advice. If you wish you can contact us at MindTribe to receive help from our team of expert psychologists.
About MindTribe.in.
MindTribe Founder Dr. Prerna Kohli, India’s eminent psychologist, established the company to leverage the strength of the online to make counseling affordable and accessible to everyone. MindTribe provides counseling, workshops, support groups, forums, and eLearning.
About the Author.
Ishita Jain is a psychologist at MindTribe.in. You can learn more about her by clicking here
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of MindTribe.in, the Founders, or management team.
Acknowledgement: All images used are open source and from Unsplash.