A theory of social comparison processes leon festinger. That brings us to the next point, namely the categorization of cognitive dissonance theory. Inasmuch as festinger s theory is concerned with attitude change and attempts to discern how persuasive messages are processed in the minds of listeners, there is no doubt that it may be regarded as a communication theory. Here are presented all the main aspects of the theory. After lewins death in 1947, the research center for group dynamics, with most of its remaining faculty, moved to the university of michigan. The concept of social comparison was first termed and fully developed by festinger 1954, who hypothesized that we are unable to selfjudge our opinions and abilities accurately, and instead rely on comparing ourselves to other people to form an evaluation. When there is an inconsistency between attitudes or behaviors dissonance, something must change to eliminate the. Pdf a theory of social comparison processes semantic scholar. These theories continue to play a role in contemporary psychology.
Social comparison theory states that individuals determine their own social and personal worth based on how they stack up against others. Full text of festingerrieckenschachterwhenprophecyfails. Write about the interaction between affect and social comparison. It is also a prime example of how creative thinking and problem solving skills can come together to produce work that changes the way. In this paper we shall present a further development of a previously published theory concerning opinion influence processes in social groups 7. Although interest in the theory has waxed and waned since then goethals, 1986b, social comparison research has enjoyed a resurgence recently. Leon festinger was born in brooklyn, new york, on may 8, 1919. Leon festinger went to boys high school and acquired a bachelors degree in science at city college, new york in. Leon festingers classic paper on a theory of social comparison processes. According to festingers social comparison theory, people who compare themselves with those who are similar to them typically produce. Theory and research concerning social comparisons of personal.
Social comparison theory assumes that people tend to evaluate their successes, failures and opinions in relation to others festinger, 1954. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. View notes 22stories from psyc 104 at university of california, san diego. Although festinger s unidirectional drive upward recognized individuals interest in selfimprovement, few studies have ex amined its role in social comparison. Born on 8 th may, 1919, he was the pioneer of social comparison and cognitive dissonance theory. Social comparison theory and drive for self evaluation. Festinger 1954 used the theory to explain shifts in members opinions. This chapter is a reminder of social comparison theorys foundations in group.
His theories and research are credited with renouncing the previously dominant behaviorist view of social. This work is a clearly stated theory on how humans think, decide, and defend their decisions. He has the honor of establishing the experimentation techniques in social psychology to an advanced level. Leon festinger was a wellknown american social psychologist. Festingers 1957 cognitive dissonance theory suggests that we have an inner drive to hold all our attitudes and behavior in harmony and avoid disharmony or dissonance. Leon festinger introduced the concept of cognitive dissonance as psychological tension in 1957. People prefer to compare themselves to others in a close proximity such as coworkers, friends, family members, etc. Pdf social comparison and influence in groups researchgate. The theory was developed in 1954 by psychologist leon. The theory explains how individuals evaluate their own opinions and abilities by comparing themselves to others in order to reduce uncertainty in these domains, and learn how to define the self.
Does social media enhance leon festingers social comparison. Sep 05, 2019 leon festinger leon festinger, the creator of a revolutionary experiment. Social psychology of fiction fiction and social psychology social psychology is the scientific study of how the thoughts. May 04, 2020 social comparison theory after lewins death in 1947, the research center for group dynamics, with most of its remaining faculty, moved to the university of michigan. Social comparison theory is the idea that individuals determine their own social and personal worth based on how they stack up against others. In this paper we shall present a further development of a previously published theory concerning. This article was originally published in the encyclopedia. Suffice it to mention that only five years after its introduction, brehm and cohen 1962, as cited in bem, 1967, p. He contributed seminal theoretical and methodological innovations to the field that today are still crucial for. Other authors recognized that people may compare themselves with members of groups they do not belong to or with social categoriesindividuals who share a social status but who have no social interaction merton 1957. The original version of the theory leon festinger formulated the original theory of cognitive dissonance in the mid1950s, and the first formal and complete presentation of the theory appeared in 1957. This article integrates these changes with insights offered by.
Social comparison theory has evolved considerably since festinger 1954 originally proposed it. Festinger was an american social psychologist who was born in new york in 1919. Apr 19, 2018 thinking about or priming similarity before conducting a comparison lessens this effect, largely in line with current accounts. Difference btw this and festingers study no state of discomfort. A theory of social comparison processes show all authors. Study of motivation involving selfannounced goals of fifth grade children and the concept of level of aspiration, journal of social psychology, 1939, 10, 209232. Leon festinger social comparison theory people need to compare their abilities against those of others.
Human relations entitled a theory of social comparison processes. Contrary to the original theory or subsequent research, a the individual is not always an unbiased selfevaluator but may seek many goals through social comparison. This is known as the principle of cognitive consistency. Leon festinger was the first psychologist to study cognitive dissonance around the 1950s, and his works, such as books and experiments, helped to shed light on the ways in which humans act to decrease cognitive dissonance. A theory of social comparison processes leon festinger, 1954. People tend to compete with those with similar st slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Comparing ourselves to people who are worse than we are on a particular trait or ability. In 1951 festinger moved to a tenuretrack position at the university of minnesota. When psychologists think of social comparison theory, they initially recall leon festingers classic paper on a theory of social comparison processes.
Festingers social comparison theory psychology essay. Leon festinger and cognitive dissonance exploring your mind. Social comparison theory psychology today australia. Theory and research concerning social comparisons of. An increasingly dominant theme in social psychology runs counter to festinger s emphasis on accurate selfevaluation. Festinger 1950 synthesized all of this work in his first theoretical paper in social psychologya seminal paper concerned with informal social communication and the process, via social comparison, of establishing the correctness of ones beliefs. Festinger argued that humans have a drive to evaluate their opinions and abilities. The theory of cognitive dissonance is one of the most significant and influential theories in the history of social psychology. Leon festinger leon festinger cognitive dissonance. Social comparison theory why dont we use objective criteria. The old one states that members of a particular group would want to be parallel with each other because a uniform agreement must be made so that the group is able to come up with a common decision. A theory of cognitive dissonance by leon festinger. People sometimes compare themselves to others as a way of.
Albeit, despite revisions on social comparison theory the fundamental building blocks of festingers 1954 original theoretical framework remains the same. Social comparison and the idealized images of advertising. Cognitive dissonance is a theory developed by 20th century social psychologist leon festinger. A theory of cognitive dissonance by leon festinger, paperback. Theorist biography leon festinger, 1919 1989, was born to russianjewish immigrants alex festinger and sara solomon festinger in brooklyn, new york. The theory of cognitive dissonance is what resulted from his research festinger, 1957. This may occur with reference to a physical reality. The theory explains how individuals evaluate their own opinions and abilities by comparing themselves to others in order to reduce uncertainty in these. Much may be explained by leon festingers cognitive dissonance theory, whereby people tend to search for justifications to reduce the tension created by holding two inconsistent attitudes or performing an act. However, in the three decades since the publication of this work, social comparison theory has evolved in several ways. Cognitive dissonance leon festinger according to cognitive dissonance theory, there is a tendency for individuals to seek consistency among their cognitions i. Apr 08, 2017 the social comparison theory was developed by social psychologist leon festinger.
Festingers social comparison theory dealt with comparison within groups and other facetoface comparisons. In general, social psychologists, always looking for the next great theory, seemed to have shelved this book and its concepts within a couple of decades after it came out in 1957 see leon festingers comments 30 years later in appendix b of cognitive dissonance progress on a pivotal theory in social. Cognitive dissonance theory has been known to play out in several ways. In 1954, festinger proposed a theory of social comparison based on this insight. Social comparison theory in psychology verywell mind. Full text of festingerrieckenschachterwhenprophecyfails1956. People make all kinds of judgments about themselves, and one of the key ways that we do this is through social comparison, or analyzing the self in. This paper furthers festingers views on group influences of opinions and applies it to abilities as well.
It refers to feelings of discomfort that occur when our actions and beliefs dont match, when we hold. When there is an inconsistency between attitudes or behaviors dissonance, something must change to eliminate the dissonance. Early research in social psychology on level of aspiration and on reference groups contributed to leon festingers social comparison theory, which he proposed in 1954. Explain how the social comparison findings, methodology, and theorizing have evolved since the publication of leon festingers theory in 1954. A theory of social comparison processes center for human science. Leon festinger s 1957 a theory of cognitive dissonance is a key text in the history of psychology one that made its author one of the most influential social psychologists of his time.
Social comparison theory, based on ones drive for selfevaluation, was first coined by leon festinger 1954. In line with festinger s 1954 theory, comparisons have stronger effects if they are on novel dimensions andor with localinvivo targets. In general, social psychologists, always looking for the next great theory, seemed to have shelved this book and its concepts within a couple of decades after it came out in 1957 see leon festinger s comments 30 years later in appendix b of cognitive dissonance progress on a pivotal theory in social. Social comparison theory, initially proposed by social psychologist leon festinger in 1954, centers on the belief that there is a drive within individuals to gain. However, most people will not change their behavior, even when they. Jun 11, 2017 a lot of earlier research had impact on festingers formulation of the social comparison theory, and these include studies on social groups, group dynamics, social communication, conformity and the autokinetic effect, compliant behavior, level of aspiration, and independence and dependence in response to unanimous majority. A theory of social comparison processes, retrieved september 12, 2007, from hum. People often change their opinions and behaviors to match various social situations. Leon festingers research provides empirical evidence to support the accuracy of cognitive dissonance theory. Leon festingers social comparison theory the psychology notes.
In a time of abundant information, the risk of picking up only those data that support our previous convictions is always there. Festingers cognitive dissonance theory and research. In the rest of the book many behavioural facts supporting the theory are put forward. His first hypothesis is that in humans there exists a drive to evaluate his opinions and abilities by comparison with the opinions and abilities of others. Festinger defined two types of comparisons upward comparisons and. He is also very wellknown for developing social theory for the proximity effect.
An analysis of leon festingers theory of cognitive. This is chapter one of leon festinger, a theory of cognitive dissonance. User hailley marie fargo has updated does social media enhance leon festingers social comparison theory. Leon festinger, an introduction to the theory of cognitive. Leon festingers theory of cognitive dissonance has been widely recognized for its important and influential concepts in areas of motivation and social psychology. Festinger s 1957 cognitive dissonance theory suggests that we have an inner drive to hold all our attitudes and behavior in harmony and avoid disharmony or dissonance. The social comparison theory was developed by social psychologist leon festinger. From this grant, he was able to write his first document on the social comparison theory and published it in the journal of human relations in 1954. Leon festinger 1954 different types of comparison we use objective criteria when available o how tall am i.
An analysis of leon festingers theory of cognitive dissonance pages 4. In 1951 festinger moved to a tenuretrack position at the university of minnesota, where schachter was already on the faculty. While a graduate student at the university of iowa, festinger worked with kurt lewin, who is known as the father of social psychology. When psychologists think of social comparison theory, they initially recall. This study examined the implications for social comparison theory of the proposition that women have lower selfconfidence than men when there is a socially defined standard of performance. The self evaluative component is important for this theory suls et al. Leon festinger 8 may 1919 11 february 1989 was an american social psychologist, perhaps best known for cognitive dissonance and social comparison theory. Festinger s hypothesis according to festinger s theory of social comparison people gain selfknowledge and selfawareness by comparing themselves to others. While at the university of minnesota, festinger read about a cult that believed that the end of the world was at hand. Leon festinger was a 20th century psychologist who developed the theories of cognitive dissonance and social comparison.
This paper further s festinger s views on group influences of opinions and applies it to abilities as well. Social comparison theory, initially proposed by social psychologist leon festinger in 1954, centers on the belief that there is a drive within individuals to gain accurate selfevaluations. Social comparison theory was first proposed in 1954 by psychologist leon festinger and suggested that people have an innate drive to evaluate themselves, often in comparison to others. Leon festinger was one of the most important figures in modern social psychology. Leon festingers social comparison theory the psychology. In the early 1950s, the behavioral sciences division of the ford foundation gave leon festinger a grant, which was part of the program of the laboratory for research in social relations. Cognitive dissonance arises from incompatibility of thoughts that.
Festingers cognitive dissonance theory and research examples why should actions so often shape our attitude, rather than vice versa. The theory of dissonance is here applied to the problem of why partial reward, delay of reward, and effort expenditure during training result in increased resistance to extinction. She attracted a group of followers who left jobs, schools, and spouses and. His theories and research are credited with renouncing the previously dominant behaviorist view of social psychology by demonstrating the inadequacy of stimulusresponse conditioning accounts of human behavior.
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