Festingers Social Comparison Theory

Social Comparisons or comparisons between the self and others are a constant in this world. Relating information to ourselves in regards to achievements and or failures as well as abilities of others are a fundamental psychological mechanism that cannot be stopped. (Dunning Hayes, 1996) Festingers’ Social Theory of Comparison was guided by three central questions: Why do people engage in social comparisons? To whom do they compare themselves? How do social comparisons influence the self? (Festinger 1954) Festingers’ Social Comparison Theory was born out of his 1950 Theory of Informational Social Communication. Festinger, sought to explore pressure toward uniformity of opinion in group agreements. He hypothesized that everyone in the group must have similar opinions and agreement on social reality for validation of said opinion for social order within the group. Thus stressing the importance of others in the formation of ones opinions. (Festinger 1950) In Social Comparison Festinger added that individuals also use others to gain knowledge about themselves. (Festinger 1954) This theory is based on nine principles and is specified with eight corollaries and eight deviations.

Hypotheses I and II Individuals are motivated to engage in social comparisons because of the need to know themselves and the inability to determine
This is attained through the feedback of others. Some individuals compare themselves in an effort to create a positive self-image. They engage in a downward comparison with others. They make their failures successes in comparison with others who performed even worse that themselves. Others engage in social comparison for a need of self-improvement. (Taylor, Lobel 1989) In order to advance or achieve success they seek an upward comparison with those individuals who are better than themselves. (Festinger