title: The influence of individual versus aggregate social comparison and the presence of others on self-evaluations.
abstract: In 5 studies, the authors investigated the effects of comparison with an individual versus comparison with the statistical average on self-evaluations of performance and ability. In Studies 1 and 2, participants took a test of lie detection ability and were provided with the average score and the score of an individual coactor. Both types of feedback significantly affected self-evaluations of performance, but only comparison with the coactor significantly affected self-evaluations of ability. Studies 3 and 4 demonstrated that the presence of a coactor moderated the effect of aggregate social comparison on self-evaluations of ability. The results provide preliminary support for the contention that minimizing the impact of comparison with the average is a self-serving strategy that is facilitated by the presence of others.
authors.affiliation: jbucking@towson.edu
authors.forename: Justin T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Buckingham
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Alicke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008014:Lie Detection; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D012649:Self Concept; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012938:Social Perception