Unrealistic Social Comparison

A detailed Summary of Unrealistic Social Comparison

The Social Comparison theory was originally developed by Leon Festinger in 1954 to explain how and why people evaluate themselves in comparison with others. Festinger hypothesized that people have a need to objectively compare themselves, but if objective standards are not available, people will engage in social comparison. Social comparisons are separated into two groups; people that compare themselves to others that perform better and people that compare themselves to others that perform worse.

In an effort to create an accurate self-evaluation, Festinger stated that humans have a tendency to compare their opinions and abilities to those of others, even though it may lower their self-esteem. He noted that humans have a strong drive to excel in their abilities and are motivated toward continual improvement. Festinger believed that individuals would compare themselves to others that they viewed as being similar, to aid in their drive toward self improvement. Thus, Festinger viewed social comparison as a process largely controlled and directed by the individual to serve their own needs.

Relating closely to the Social Comparison theory is the strong desire by women to have a slender body. Modern Media has played a serious ro

The survey will be conducted with approximately two-hundred women selected at random, in random locations over a period of three weeks. They will be asked to participate in the survey to help improve the knowledge-base now offered in the field of Psychology and will be paid ten dollars for their time and effort. The participants will be asked to answer the survey as truthful as possible and will be assured that their privacy will be respected and their identity will remain anonymous. It~ crucial that an environment be created that will put the participants at ease and encourage them to be truthful with their answers. If the environment is inadequate to that means, it may lead to biased answers and incalculable results.

le in reinforcing a cultural ideal of thinness for women. Many researchers have attributed eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa to the need that many women feel they should conform to the popular media images of women emphasizing that thinness is beautiful. I feel it's important to conduct a study into the reasons why women evaluate themselves so strongly to celebrities when Festinger clearly stated they would always evaluate themselves to those they viewed as being similar. I hardly agree celebrities fit the model of the average men and women in our society so how could they be viewed as being similar.

In Conclusion, I believe that testing the idea that we unr

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Approximate Word count = 946
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Science