Abstract
Social comparison theories typically imply a comparable degree of competition between commensurate rivals who are competing on a mutually important dimension. However, the present analysis reveals that the degree of competition between such rivals depends on their proximity to a meaningful standard. Studies 1 to 3 test the prediction that individuals become more competitive and less willing to maximize profitable joint gains when they and their commensurate rivals are highly ranked (e.g., #2 vs. #3) than when they are not (e.g., #202 vs. #203). Studies 4 to 6 then generalize these findings, showing that the degree of competition also increases in the proximity of other meaningful standards, such as the bottom of a ranking scale or a qualitative threshold in the middle of a scale. Studies 7 and 8 further examine the psychological processes underlying this phenomenon and reveal that proximity to a standard exerts a direct impact on the basic unidirectional drive upward, beyond the established effects of commensurability and dimension relevance.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 970-982 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin |
Volume | 32 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2006 |
Keywords
- Behavioral economics
- Choice behavior
- Competition
- Decision making
- Social capital
- Social comparison
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology