Boundaries of self-positivity: the effect of comparison focus in self-friend comparisons.
The way in which a comparison is worded has systematic effects on its outcome. In self-other comparisons, the instruction "compare yourself with your peers" triggers greater self-positivity than does the reverse instruction, "compare your peers with yourself" (focus effect). But is the focus effect due to the inclusion of a generalized target? The authors extended the focus effect from comparisons with the average peer to comparisons with specific individuals (close friend or acquaintance). Participants displayed self-positivity when they compared themselves with a close friend but not when they compared a close friend with themselves. The present research is the first to demonstrate the focus effect in comparisons of self and specific individuals.
Pahl
Sabine
S
School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, England. sabine.pahl@plymouth.ac.uk
Eiser
J Richard
JR
White
Mathew P
MP
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001290:Attitude; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011587:Psychology, Comparative; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult