FOR BETTER OR WORSE - THE IMPACT OF UPWARD SOCIAL-COMPARISON ON SELF-EVALUATIONS

Upward social comparison is generally regarded as ego deflating yet pe ople often compare themselves with those whose abilities and attribute s are better than their own. Upward comparison provides useful informa tion, which may partially account for this behavior. Furthermore, it i s proposed that upward comparison only sometimes results in more negat ive self-evaluations; it can also be self-enhancing. A review of studi es testing upward comparison effects on self-evaluations, self-esteem, and affect is consistent with this conclusion. Thus, people may make upward comparisons in hopes of enhancing their self-assessments. It is concluded that upward comparison is not in conflict with the desire f or positive self-regard and indeed serves it indirectly (through self- improvement) and sometimes directly (by enhancing the self).