Social comparison : contemporary theory and research

Abstract

Contents: Part I: L. Whoeler, A Brief History of Social Comparison Theory. Part II:General Models of Social Comparison. J.V. Wood, K.L. Taylor, Serving Self-Relevant Goals Through Social Comparison. T.A. Willis, Similarity and Self-Esteem in Downward Comparison. D. Ruble, K. Frey, Changing Patterns of Comparative Behavior as Skills are Acquired: A Functional Model of Self-Evaluation. A. Tesser, Emotion in Social Comparison and Reflection Processes. Part III:Social Cognition and Social Comparison. G.R. Goethals, D.M. Messick, S.T. Allison, The Uniqueness Bias: Studies of Constructive Social Comparison. N. Miller, S. Gross, R. Holtz, Social Projection and Atti- tudinal Certainty. R. Luhtanen, J. Crocker, Self-Esteem and Intergroup Comparisons: Toward A Theory of Collective Self-Esteem. Part IV:Specific Models of Comparison. B. Major, M. Testa, W.H. Bylsma, Responses to Upward and Downward Social Comparisons: The Impact of Esteem-Relevance and Perceived Control. P. Solovey, Social Comparison Processes in Envy and Jealousy. D.T. Miller, C. McFarland, When Social Comparison Goes Awry: The Case of Pluralistic Ignorance. Part V:Applied Models of Social Comparison. F.X. Gibbons, M. Gerrard, Social Comparison in Special Populations. D. Nagata, F. Crosby, Comparisons, Justice, and Internment of Japanese Americans. G. Affleck, H. Tennen, Social Comparison and Coping with Serious Medical Problems. Part VI: J. Suls, Commentary.