Comparisons

One individual difference factor that is often raised as a potential predictor of level of social comparison is self-esteem. However, the relation between self-esteem and social comparison appears to be rather complex. Wheeler and Miyake (1992) had 94 college students record the social comparisons they made for two weeks. They found that whether one makes upward or downward comparisons is dependent upon the target, but that having a negative mood before socially comparing oneself is more likely to lead to upward comparisons. One might expect that having a negative mood before making comparisons would lead to downward comparisons. The results seem counterintuitive in that they also found that subjective well-being is decreased by upward comparisons…

Social comparison theory is another social psychological theory that establishes that individuals have a drive to evaluate their opinions, engage in social comparison and are usually with people that look similar to them (T.Morrison, M.Morison, Kalin, 2004). Downward comparison (comparing oneself to someone dissimilar to oneself) is believe to enhance well-being and upward comparison (comparing oneself to someone who is better) is believed to decrease well-being. However, research has shown that…

I believe comparison is like human nature because we as humans like to compete against each other and conform in order to "fit in" and at the same time be better than everyone else. I would compare my level of English and reading comprehension skills to others' because Chinese is my "first language." Though I learned English at the same time as Chinese, Chinese was the most dominant language spoken. And because of that, I have to work twice as hard and it will take me twice as longer to write…

In the article “The Comparison Trap” by Rebecca Webber, she makes superb points on the subject at hand, which is looking at the negative and positive of comparing yourself to others. It can go both ways just depends on the aspect you take on whatever you're comparing yourself to and I also find a delight in the fact that she uses a real life example at which you can relate to. A point I would like to make for a subject she could have touched on within the article is the comfort zone. The comfort…

In the article “The Comparison Trap” by Rebecca Webber she makes some very good point on the subject at hand comparing being negative and positive just depending on the aspect you take on whatever you're comparing yourself to. A point I would like to make for a point she could have touched on as well, being the aspect of the comfort zone. To look more on positive reaction you can usually find it by just simple stepping out of that comfort zone by doing something maybe you never did before or…

Social Comparison. The inclusion of social comparison within the TIM stems from social comparison theory (Festinger, 1954). According to Festinger (1954), individuals have an inherent drive to evaluate their opinions and abilities. When objective standards are unavailable, individuals seek out others to make comparisons. The outcome of such comparisons is partially influenced by directionality, that is upward or downward. Upward comparisons are proposed to occur when an individual compares him-…

What people ought to do is usually associated with what people have most reason to do. Reasoning is a characteristic feature of humans, an essential tool of thinking that enables people to learn the truth and to rationalize their understanding of the world. Most importantly, reason is the primary source of justification that explains human actions, beliefs and behaviours. By exercising rational reasoning, humans weight up their available alternatives and act according to the best possible…

There are many things that people have compared over the years, like ketchup and mustard, or whether or not the film version was better than the book. People love comparing and contrasting things because it helps us understand them better. As humans we have been comparing things since the stone age, it is what lets us know the difference between bad and good, or safe and unsafe. In today's world we use it mostly in casual conversations, about movies, business, and basically anything else you can…

They should just be accepted as is and not immediately subjected to past experiences that may have been “better” in comparison. Children are coached from a young age to compare their feelings and most prized possessions without any regard of the consequences it might have on their future. Joshua Becker, author of Becoming Minimalist: A Helpful Guide to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others, shares, “I’ve lived most of my life comparing myself to others. At first, it was school and sports. But as I…

They share the same goal of redemption and equal inevitability of their failure. Dunya was the same objective to Svidrigailov as the superman theory to Raskolnikov. When either was faced with the failure of reaching their goal, they suffered a massive psychological breakdown. Their different perspectives on life drove them to choose different outcomes of their journeys. Svidrigailov would have rather died than spent life in prison. He was very egotistical and didn’t like to admit he was wrong,…