What is Social Comparison Theory?

Social Comparison Theory is a
hypothesis first proposed by a social psychologist named Leon Festinger in 1954.  It
states that individuals compare themselves to others as a means of learning more about
their own attitudes and abilities.  This often occurs when people experience uncertainty
about some aspect of themselves and wish to know how other people respond or think.  As
humans, we tend to compare ourselves to anyone who is around us regardless of whether or
not the comparison is accurate or valid; however, this theory states that after an
initial comparison, people tend to analyze the results and seek a more accurate
comparison or a comparison that is more conducive to their
purpose.

According to this theory, there are two forms of
social comparison.  Downward Social Comparison occurs when
individuals compare themselves to people who are worse than they are in reference to a
particular trait or ability.  Upward Social Comparison
occurs when individuals compare themselves to people who are better than
they are in reference to a particular trait or ability.