![]() As we learned earlier, we organize information based on similarity and difference, but these patterns don’t always hold true. But social comparison can be complicated by perceptual influences. Conversely, athletes were probably more apt to compare themselves, in terms of similar athletic ability, to other athletes rather than kids in show choir. Some kids in your high school probably wanted to fit in with and be similar to other people in the marching band but be different from the football players. ![]() Think of all the cliques in high school and how people voluntarily and involuntarily broke off into groups based on popularity, interest, culture, or grade level. Although we compare ourselves to others throughout our lives, adolescent and teen years usually bring new pressure to be similar to or different from particular reference groups. Factors like age and personality may influence whether or not we want to fit in or stand out. ![]() Since self-concept is context specific, similarity may be desirable in some situations and difference more desirable in others. We also engage in social comparison based on similarity and difference. Using as a reference group people who have only recently started a fitness program but have shown progress could help maintain a more accurate and hopefully positive self-concept. If a man wants to get into better shape and starts an exercise routine, he may be discouraged by his difficulty keeping up with the aerobics instructor or running partner and judge himself as inferior, which could negatively affect his self-concept. In terms of athletic ability, many people choose unreasonable reference groups with which to engage in social comparison. Reference groups are the groups we use for social comparison, and they typically change based on what we are evaluating. This process of comparison and evaluation isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it can have negative consequences if our reference group isn’t appropriate. For example, you may judge yourself to be more intelligent than your brother or less athletic than your best friend, and these judgments are incorporated into your self-concept. In terms of superiority and inferiority, we evaluate characteristics like attractiveness, intelligence, athletic ability, and so on. Social comparisons are based on two dimensions: superiority/inferiority and similarity/difference (Hargie, 2011). Social comparison theory states that we describe and evaluate ourselves in terms of how we compare to other people. We also develop our self-concept through comparisons to other people. For example, you may think, “I’m glad that people can count on me to listen to their problems.” These thoughts evoke emotional responses that feed into our self-concept. This reflective process of building our self-concept is based on what other people have actually said, such as “You’re a good listener,” and other people’s actions, such as coming to you for advice. ![]() The concept of the looking glass self explains that we see ourselves reflected in other people’s reactions to us and then form our self-concept based on how we believe other people see us (Cooley, 1902). Our self-concept is also formed through our interactions with others and their reactions to us. Stefano Ravalli – In control – CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |