Social Comparison Theory: Self-Evaluation and Group Life

Abstract

When psychologists think of social comparison theory, they initially recall Leon Festinger’s classic paper on a theory of social comparison processes. However, in the three decades since the publication of this work, social comparison theory has evolved in several ways. First, there have been many restatements and amendments to the theory, some connecting it with other theories current in social psychology. Second, several discrete areas of empirical investigation have flourished that are closely connected to the theory. A modern theory of social comparison draws on both these developments for its formulation.