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Bram P. Buunk - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The positive effects of Upward Comparison : can they coexist with the big-fish-little-pond effect?
2005Co-Authors: Marjorie Seaton, Hart Blanton, Florence Dumas, Bram P. Buunk, Frederick X. Gibbons, Herbert W. Marsh, Pascal Huguet, Jean-marc Monteil, Isabelle Régner, Hans KuyperAbstract:Marjorie Seaton and Herbert W. Marsh, SELF Research Centre, The University of Western Sydney, Australia Florence Dumas, Pascal Huguet, and Jean-Marc Monteil, University of Aix-Marseille, CNRS, France Isabelle Regner University of Toulouse, France Hart Blanton Texas A & M University, College Station, USA Bram P. Buunk University of Groningen, The Netherlands Frederick X. Gibbons Iowa State University, USA Hans Kuyper University of Groningen, The Netherlands Ladd Wheeler Macquarie University, Australia Jerry Suls University of Iowa, USA
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Social Comparisons at Work as Related to a Cooperative Social Climate and to Individual Differences in Social Comparison Orientation
Applied Psychology, 2005Co-Authors: Bram P. Buunk, Rosario Zurriaga, José M. Peiró, Aukje Nauta, Isabel GosalvezAbstract:This study examined the frequency of social Comparisons in a work setting, and the feelings that these Comparisons evoked. These processes were related to individual differences in social Comparison orientation, and to the perception of a cooperative social climate at work. The participants were 216 physicians from various health centers in the Community of Valencia in Spain. In general, Upward Comparisons occurred more often, and elicited more positive and less negative affect than downward Comparisons. Those high in social Comparison orientation reported relatively more Upward as well as downward Comparisons, more positive affect after downward Comparisons, and more negative affect after Upward Comparisons. Conversely, those who perceived the social climate at work as cooperative reported relatively more downward Comparisons, more negative affect after downward Comparison, and more positive affect after Upward Comparison. Among the 87 participants who participated in the longitudinal part of the study, perceived cooperative climate and social Comparison orientation were more stable over a period of one year than the frequency of Upward and downward Comparison and the affective consequences of Upward and downward Comparison. It is concluded that individuals interpret social Comparisons at work in a positive way when they perceive the social climate as cooperative, and in a negative way when they are high in social Comparison orientation.
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feeling bad but satisfied the effects of Upward and downward Comparison upon mood and marital satisfaction
British Journal of Social Psychology, 2003Co-Authors: Bram P. Buunk, J F YbemaAbstract:This study in a sample of 135 women from rural areas examined the effects of social Comparison with the marriage of another woman upon mood, identification and relationship evaluation. The Comparison target constituted either an Upward or a downward Comparison, characterized by either high or low effort. Upward targets evoked a more positive mood, and a less negative mood than downward targets, while, in contrast, the evaluation of one's own relationship was more positive after being exposed to a downward target than after being exposed to an Upward target. Upward targets and high-effort targets instilled more identification than downward and low-effort targets. A higher level of marital quality led to less identification with the downward targets and to more identification with the Upward targets, particularly with targets who put a high degree of effort in the relationship. Identification mediated the association between marital quality and positive mood following Upward Comparison. The present study suggests that Upward and downward Comparison may have effects upon mood that are opposite to those upon self-evaluation, and demonstrates that happily married individuals may through identification with Upward targets derive positive affective consequences from exposure to such targets.
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The affective consequences of social Comparison as related to professional burnout and social Comparison orientation
European Journal of Social Psychology, 2001Co-Authors: Bram P. Buunk, J F Ybema, Frederick X. Gibbons, Marielouise IpenburgAbstract:In a study among sociotherapists, the affective consequences of social Comparison were examined and related to professional burnout and to individual differences in social Comparison orientation. Participants were confronted with a bogus interview with an Upward versus a downward Comparison target. Upward Comparison generated more positive and less negative affect than did downward Comparison. Increasing levels of burnout were accompanied by less positive affect in response to Upward Comparison. Moreover, the higher the level of burnout, the more negative affect a description of a downward Comparison target evoked, but only among individuals high in social Comparison orientation. Finally, the higher the level of burnout, the higher the identification with the downward target, and the lower the identification with the Upward target. However, this last effect did occur only among those low in social Comparison orientation. Those high in social Comparison orientation kept identifying with the Upward target, even when they were high in burnout. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Neuroticism and Social Comparison Orientation as Moderators of Affective Responses to Social Comparison at Work
Journal of personality, 2001Co-Authors: Bram P. Buunk, Karen I. Van Der Zee, Nico W. VanyperenAbstract:In a study among 72 nurses, the affective consequences of social Comparison were examined and related to neuroticism (N) and to social Comparison orientation (SCO). Participants were confronted with a bogus interview with an Upward versus a downward Comparison target. Positive affect and identification were higher, and negative affect was lower, in the Upward than in the downward Comparison condition. Independent of their SCO, the higher individuals were in N, the less they identified with the Upward Comparison target, the more they identified with the downward Comparison target, and the less positive affect they showed following confrontation with the Upward Comparison target. In contrast, independent of their level of N, the higher individuals were in SCO, the more negative affect they showed following confrontation with the downward Comparison target. The effects on negative affect stayed the same when controlling for positive affect, and the effects on positive affect stayed the same when controlling for negative affect. These effects were also obtained when perceived direction was used as a predictor instead of the experimentally manipulated direction. It is concluded that, although N and SCO are correlated, these variables seem to have independent and distinct effects upon the responses to social Comparison information.
Frederick X. Gibbons - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Effects of Upward and downward social Comparison information on the efficacy of an appearance-based sun protection intervention: a randomized, controlled experiment
Journal of behavioral medicine, 2010Co-Authors: Heike I. M. Mahler, Meg Gerrard, James A. Kulik, Frederick X. GibbonsAbstract:This experiment examined the impact of adding Upward and/or downward social Comparison information on the efficacy of an appearance-based sun protection intervention (UV photos and photoaging information). Southern California college students (N = 126) were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: control, intervention, intervention plus Upward social Comparison, intervention plus downward social Comparison. The results demonstrated that all those who received the basic UV photo/photoaging intervention reported greater perceived susceptibility to photoaging (d = .74), less favorable tanning cognitions (d = .44), and greater intentions to sun protect (d = 1.32) relative to controls. Of more interest, while the basic intervention increased sun protective behavior during the subsequent 5 weeks relative to controls (d = .44), the addition of downward Comparison information completely negated this benefit. Upward Comparison information produced sun protection levels that were only slightly (and nonsignificantly) greater than in the basic intervention condition and, as such, does not appear to be a cost-effective addition. Possible mechanisms that may have reduced the benefits of Upward Comparison information and contributed to the undermining effects of downward Comparison information are discussed.
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Phantom Behavioral Assimilation Effects: Systematic Biases in Social Comparison Choice Studies
Journal of Personality, 2010Co-Authors: Herbert W. Marsh, Florence Dumas, Marjorie Seaton, Pascal Huguet, Jean-marc Monteil, Isabelle Régner, Hans Kuyper, Abraham P. Buunk, Frederick X. GibbonsAbstract:Consistent with social Comparison theory (SCT), Blanton, Buunk, Gibbons, and Kuyper (1999) and Huguet, Dumas, Monteil, and Genestoux (2001) found that students tended to choose Comparison targets who slightly outperformed them (i.e., Upward Comparison choices), and this had a beneficial effect on subsequent performance-a behavioral assimilation effect (BAE). We show (Studies 1 and 2) that this apparent BAE is due, in part, to uncontrolled measurement error in pretest achievement. However, using simulated data (Study 3), these phantom BAEs were eliminated with latent-variable models with multiple indicators. In Studies 4 and 5, latent-variable models were applied to the Blanton et al. and Huguet et al. data, resulting in substantially smaller but still significantly positive BAEs. More generally in personality research based on correlational data, failure to control measurement error in pretest/background variables will positively bias the apparent effects of personality variables of interest, but widely applicable approaches demonstrated here can correct for these biases.
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The positive effects of Upward Comparison : can they coexist with the big-fish-little-pond effect?
2005Co-Authors: Marjorie Seaton, Hart Blanton, Florence Dumas, Bram P. Buunk, Frederick X. Gibbons, Herbert W. Marsh, Pascal Huguet, Jean-marc Monteil, Isabelle Régner, Hans KuyperAbstract:Marjorie Seaton and Herbert W. Marsh, SELF Research Centre, The University of Western Sydney, Australia Florence Dumas, Pascal Huguet, and Jean-Marc Monteil, University of Aix-Marseille, CNRS, France Isabelle Regner University of Toulouse, France Hart Blanton Texas A & M University, College Station, USA Bram P. Buunk University of Groningen, The Netherlands Frederick X. Gibbons Iowa State University, USA Hans Kuyper University of Groningen, The Netherlands Ladd Wheeler Macquarie University, Australia Jerry Suls University of Iowa, USA
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The affective consequences of social Comparison as related to professional burnout and social Comparison orientation
European Journal of Social Psychology, 2001Co-Authors: Bram P. Buunk, J F Ybema, Frederick X. Gibbons, Marielouise IpenburgAbstract:In a study among sociotherapists, the affective consequences of social Comparison were examined and related to professional burnout and to individual differences in social Comparison orientation. Participants were confronted with a bogus interview with an Upward versus a downward Comparison target. Upward Comparison generated more positive and less negative affect than did downward Comparison. Increasing levels of burnout were accompanied by less positive affect in response to Upward Comparison. Moreover, the higher the level of burnout, the more negative affect a description of a downward Comparison target evoked, but only among individuals high in social Comparison orientation. Finally, the higher the level of burnout, the higher the identification with the downward target, and the lower the identification with the Upward target. However, this last effect did occur only among those low in social Comparison orientation. Those high in social Comparison orientation kept identifying with the Upward target, even when they were high in burnout. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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social Comparison and the pill reactions to Upward and downward Comparison of contraceptive behavior
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1993Co-Authors: Theresa J Reis, Meg Gerrard, Frederick X. GibbonsAbstract:It has been assumed that engaging in downward social Comparison can improve subjective well-being both by ameliorating negative mood and by improving self-concept. Although a number of studies have demonstrated the effect of downward Comparison on mood, there has been little empirical evidence of its effect on self-concept. The results of the current study indicate that downward Comparison can increase self-esteem and does so especially for persons with relative low self-esteem. The results also suggest that Upward Comparison opportunities have different effects on the attitudes of high- and low-self-esteem persons.
Diederik A Stapel - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Retraction Note to: Happiness as alchemy: Positive mood leads to self-serving responses to social Comparisons
Motivation and Emotion, 2011Co-Authors: Camille S. Johnson, Diederik A StapelAbstract:People in a positive mood process information in ways that reinforce and maintain this positive mood. The current studies examine how positive mood influences responses to social Comparisons and demonstrates that people in a positive mood interpret ambiguous information about Comparison others in self-benefitting ways. Specifically, four experiments demonstrate that compared to negative mood or neutral mood participants, participants in a positive mood engage in effortful re-interpretations of ambiguously similar Comparison targets so that they may assimilate to Upward Comparison targets and contrast from downward Comparison targets.
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Happiness as alchemy: Positive mood leads to self-serving responses to social Comparisons.
Motivation and Emotion, 2011Co-Authors: Camille S. Johnson, Diederik A StapelAbstract:People in a positive mood process information in ways that reinforce and maintain this positive mood. The current studies examine how positive mood influences responses to social Comparisons and demonstrates that people in a positive mood interpret ambiguous information about Comparison others in self-benefitting ways. Specifically, four experiments demonstrate that compared to negative mood or neutral mood participants, participants in a positive mood engage in effortful re-interpretations of ambiguously similar Comparison targets so that they may assimilate to Upward Comparison targets and contrast from downward Comparison targets.
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Harnessing Social Comparisons: When and How Upward Comparisons Influence Goal Pursuit
Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 2010Co-Authors: Camille S. Johnson, Diederik A StapelAbstract:Upward social Comparisons have been shown to impact people's self-views, their emotional states, and their behaviors. The present research suggests that such Comparisons may also influence the goals that people pursue and the success with which they pursue them. Inspired by goal systems theory, the present research examines how Upward social Comparisons influence goal commitment in two ways: through hierarchical shifts toward global goals and through lateral shifts in goal commitment away from subgoals in threatening domains. We demonstrate that people actively disengage from domain-specific subgoals (e.g., verbal abilities) and increase commitment to a related superordinate goal (e.g., succeeding in school) after they have been exposed to an Upward Comparison that threatens their self-evaluations.
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retracted when different is better performance following Upward Comparison
European Journal of Social Psychology, 2007Co-Authors: Camille S. Johnson, Diederik A StapelAbstract:The attainability of Upward social Comparisons is known to affect self-evaluative responses. The consequences for performance, however, are less well understood. We suggest that demoralizing Upward Comparisons with unattainable targets may lead to improved performance when the target and performance domains are mismatched. For example, Comparison with a target that has been successful in an analytic domain should lead to better performance in a verbal domain. This improvement in performance occurs because increased performance in alternative domains provides an opportunity for self-evaluation maintenance. In three studies, we demonstrate that Upward Comparisons to targets whose successes are perceived as threatening lead to improved performance when the task and performance domain do not match, but no improvements when the domains match. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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when different is better performance following Upward Comparison
European Journal of Social Psychology, 2007Co-Authors: Camille S. Johnson, Diederik A StapelAbstract:The attainability of Upward social Comparisons is known to affect self-evaluative responses. The consequences for performance, however are less well understood. We suggest that demoralizing Upward Comparisons with unattainable targets may lead to improved performance when the target and performance domains are mismatched. For example, Comparison with a target that has been successful in an analytic domain should lead to better performance in a verbal domain. This improvement informance occurs because increased performance in alternative domains provides an opportunity for self-evaluation maintenance. In three studies, we demonstrate that Upward Comparisons to targets whose successes are perceived as threatening lead to improved performance when the task and performance domain do not match, but no improvements when the domains match. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lieke Schiphof - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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effects of match result and social Comparison on sport state self esteem fluctuations
Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 2010Co-Authors: Marieheloise Bardel, Paul Fontayne, Fabienne Colombel, Lieke SchiphofAbstract:Abstract Objective The principal aim of this study was to test fluctuations of sport state self-esteem components (Perceived Athletic Competence [PAC] and Satisfaction with Current Sport Performance [SCSP]) depending on match results (win, loss) and social Comparison which is defined in three directions: downward, lateral or Upward Comparison. Method 95 tennis players (33 women, 62 men; Mage = 28.06; SD = 10.22) volunteered to complete a State Self-Esteem Scale (EESES; Bardel, Fontayne, & Colombel, 2008 ) before and after a tennis competition. Subjects of this study are categorised according to their opponent's tennis level (respectively an inferior, comparable or a superior ranking). Results The results highlight: (1) a main effect of match result on PAC and SCSP levels (win > loss) and, (2) an interaction effect of match result and social Comparison on PAC level. More precisely, PAC significantly decreases in case of defeat against an inferior ranked opponent (downward Comparison). SCSP only fluctuates in relation with match result. Conclusion It seems that failure has more impact on state self-esteem level than success. This study shows that sport state self-esteem level can fluctuate according to match result and social Comparison.
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Effects of Match Result and Social Comparison on Sport State Self-Esteem Fluctuations
Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 2010Co-Authors: Marieheloise Bardel, Paul Fontayne, Fabienne Colombel, Lieke SchiphofAbstract:Objective The principal aim of this study was to test fluctuations of sport state self-esteem components (Perceived Athletic Competence [PAC] and Satisfaction with Current Sport Performance [SCSP]) depending on match results (win, loss) and social Comparison which is defined in three directions: downward, lateral or Upward Comparison. Method 95 tennis players (33 women, 62 men; Mage = 28.06; SD = 10.22) volunteered to complete a State Self-Esteem Scale (EESES; Bardel, Fontayne, & Colombel, 2008) before and after a tennis competition. Subjects of this study are categorised according to their opponent's tennis level (respectively an inferior, comparable or a superior ranking). Results The results highlight: (1) a main effect of match result on PAC and SCSP levels (win > loss) and, (2) an interaction effect of match result and social Comparison on PAC level. More precisely, PAC significantly decreases in case of defeat against an inferior ranked opponent (downward Comparison). SCSP only fluctuates in relation with match result. Conclusion It seems that failure has more impact on state self-esteem level than success. This study shows that sport state self-esteem level can fluctuate according to match result and social Comparison.
Thomas D Meyer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Current and former depression and their relationship to the effects of social Comparison processes. Results of an internet based study.
Journal of affective disorders, 2006Co-Authors: Eva Bäzner, Philip Brömer, Philipp Hammelstein, Thomas D MeyerAbstract:According to cognitive vulnerability stress models of depression, negative cognitions are supposed to be stable characteristics of depressed individuals even between depressive episodes. Depressed people also interpret social information more negatively than healthy people, perhaps even between depressive episodes. Frequency of social Comparison processes is correlated with low self-esteem and uncertainty, which is common in depression. Do people with lifetime depressive episodes engage in social Comparisons more often and do they react more negatively to an Upward Comparison than normal controls? And if they do, is this just due to current depressive symptoms? A questionnaire including the BDI II was administered as an internet link to all students or employees of a large University. 913 participants responded. After assessing social Comparison orientation we used an Upward Comparison paradigm by asking the participants to compare themselves with a better-off person on several dimensions. Finally lifetime and current depressive symptoms were assessed. Depressed persons engage in social Comparison processes more often than normal controls. Positive affect decreased in the whole sample as a reaction of to social Comparison. This effect was stronger among persons with at least one depressive episode in the past, and this was not just due to current depression. Depressed persons engage more often in social Comparison processes and they additionally react more negatively to Upward Comparisons than healthy controls. The result that even those not currently depressed with lifetime depressive episodes show a similar negative reaction to an Upward Comparison indicates that social Comparisons are situations that interact with a stable cognitive vulnerability leading to negative affect and stronger negative reactions.
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Current and former depression and their relationship to the effects of social Comparison processes. Results of an internet based study.
Journal of Affective Disorders, 2006Co-Authors: Eva Bäzner, Philip Brömer, Philipp Hammelstein, Thomas D MeyerAbstract:Abstract Background According to cognitive vulnerability stress models of depression, negative cognitions are supposed to be stable characteristics of depressed individuals even between depressive episodes. Depressed people also interpret social information more negatively than healthy people, perhaps even between depressive episodes. Frequency of social Comparison processes is correlated with low self-esteem and uncertainty, which is common in depression. Questions Do people with lifetime depressive episodes engage in social Comparisons more often and do they react more negatively to an Upward Comparison than normal controls? And if they do, is this just due to current depressive symptoms? Method A questionnaire including the BDI II was administered as an internet link to all students or employees of a large University. 913 participants responded. After assessing social Comparison orientation we used an Upward Comparison paradigm by asking the participants to compare themselves with a better-off person on several dimensions. Finally lifetime and current depressive symptoms were assessed. Results Depressed persons engage in social Comparison processes more often than normal controls. Positive affect decreased in the whole sample as a reaction of to social Comparison. This effect was stronger among persons with at least one depressive episode in the past, and this was not just due to current depression. Conclusion Depressed persons engage more often in social Comparison processes and they additionally react more negatively to Upward Comparisons than healthy controls. The result that even those not currently depressed with lifetime depressive episodes show a similar negative reaction to an Upward Comparison indicates that social Comparisons are situations that interact with a stable cognitive vulnerability leading to negative affect and stronger negative reactions.
