The Social Comparison of Ability
- 1 February 1981
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Human Relations
- Vol. 34 (2) , 89-109
- https://doi.org/10.1177/001872678103400201
Abstract
Current theories of social comparison processes deriving from Festinger lack predictive validity largely because the central construct (social comparison) has been left undefined. This paper offers a definition of social comparison which implies that people can compare their abilities in numerous different ways. An experiment is described which varied interpersonal similarity in ability and measured three forms of ability comparison-competition, cooperation, and conformity. Both competition and cooperation were found to vary as a function of interpersonal similarity. Some suggestions are tendered for a reformulated theory of social comparison processes.Keywords
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