Upward social comparison and self-concept: inspiration and inferiority among art students in an advanced programme.
We examined the role of social comparison in changes in the artistic self-concept of adolescents attending an advanced arts programme. Unfavourable comparisons that promoted a sense of inferiority and favourable comparisons that promoted inspiration were measured just prior to, in the first week of, and at the end of the 6 week programme. Consistent with the 'big fish little pond effect', inferiority comparisons made during the programme were associated with negative changes in self-concept. Consistent with the social comparison literature, however, inspiration comparisons made during the programme were associated with positive changes in self-concept. Rather than suggesting that exposure to highly talented peers is necessarily unfavourable, results suggest that the interpretation of the comparisons made in situ determines the favourability of such exposure.
Burleson
Kathryn
K
University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA.
Leach
Colin Wayne
CW
Harrington
David M
DM
D000293:Adolescent; D001076:Aptitude; D001154:Art; D001240:Aspirations, Psychological; D003405:Creativity; D004522:Educational Status; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006608:Hierarchy, Social; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010379:Peer Group; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*