Blog #3- Social Comparison Theory

As a social being, I am often influenced by the behaviors of others. In developing my own self-concept, I often compare myself to others as an anchor for the value and normality of my own behavior. In Social Psychology, this practice is called Social Comparison Theory (Festinger, 1954); in which individuals measure their own self-worth by comparing themselves with other individuals. Although I often make small, almost subconscious, comparisons to others, one instance from my teenage years stands out as a significant use of Social Comparison Theory. As a teenager, I was a confident and almost outrageously outgoing 15-year-old. However, I was not immune to the human tendency to compare myself to others, especially in attempting to define a solid self-concept. The qualities that I mistakenly began to admire in other individuals were influenced by the wealthy peers that I attended high school with. Brand name clothes and luxury cars were quite appealing, and were things I began to value and desire because others had them. My mom gave in to a lot of my pleas for expensive purses and shoes, but she wisely put a firm foot down when I began begging for a BMW. Many of my peers drove brand new BMWs and Mercedes, and I wanted to have the same luxury. When my mom informed me that I would definitely not be receiving one of these high-end cars as my first vehicle, I was irrationally outraged. The thought that I would not have one of these status cars was daunting to my immaturely developed self-esteem. However, as my sixteenth birthday drew closer, my mom and I began to talk extensively about my car situation. She knew I was upset, but wanted me to realize that I would have a vehicle when I turned 16, and that this was a significant privilege. My mom made me draw a social comparison with other individuals my age, and much older, who were not able to afford a car, despite a considerable necessity for one. She helped me to appreciate the fact that I would even have a car given to me at such a young age, as many others worked very hard but still could not afford the luxury of having a car. By comparing myself with less fortunate individuals, I employed the Social Comparison Theory, and was able to build my own self-esteem through this comparison. Most importantly, I learned to appreciate the privileges that I had been gifted with in my life, and that these material things were not proper measures of self-worth. Ever since that realization, I have been much more careful to use my Social Comparisons to be more mindful of the less fortunate in this world.

Festinger, L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. Human Relations, 7, 117-140.