The underestimated role of temporal comparison: a test of the life-span model.
The assumption of the life-span model (Suls & Mullen 1982)--that age affects the way people make comparisons--was tested. Three groups of participants in England--young adults (18-39 years old; n = 83), middle-aged adults (40-64 years old; n = 52), and older adults (65-87 years old; n = 50) completed a questionnaire that assessed preference for temporal comparison or social comparison. Although the present results support the general assumption of the life-span model, they suggest that preferences for comparison processes develop in accordance with another pattern. Consistent with the life-span model, the present results indicate that temporary comparison is more important for young and middle-aged adults than researchers have assumed.
Brown
R
R
Department of Psychology, The University, Canterbury, Kent, England.
Middendorf
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010379:Peer Group; D010553:Personality Development; D012649:Self Concept; D012933:Social Identification; D012938:Social Perception