What Is Social Comparison Theory?

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Comparing ourselves with others in different ways is natural.

At work, comparisons may result in perceptions of unfairness.

Unfairness creates stress for which there are actions we can take to resolve.

We compare ourselves with other people. We do so in different ways, in different situations. We may or may not be aware of the comparisons we make. We may or may not realize, for good or ill, how these comparisons affect our behaviors and our mental health. Do you compare yourself with a sibling, a friend, a parent, a co-worker, or your younger self? Over 70 years ago, the social psychologist Leon Festinger published his now-famous theory about social comparisons.

In my experience, one of the most practical and useful elaborations of Festinger’s work is J. Stacy Adams’s equity theory of motivation. Although originally applied primarily to issues of fairness in the workplace, equity theory can be useful in other situations. It can help us understand ourselves—and even motivate our behavior.

We can compare ourselves with another person or several people. We can also compare ourselves with a younger........

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