Social Comparison Strategies

Abstract

Recent research on the characteristics of comparison others most desired during self-evaluation of abilities suggests that preferences are stronger for similar others than for standard setters. In the present study, conclusions concerning comparison choice strategies were reexamined by allowing subjects to make choices that could simultaneously represent similarity and standard-setting concerns and by examining participants' subjective perceptions of similarity with their comparison choices. The results indicated that subjects' strategies for choosing comparison others incorporated both dimensions and that similarity-based choices, as defined subjectively, did not predominate. Complexities in evaluating social comparison choices are discussed.