logo

Video encyclopedia

Social comparison theory

2:13

What is Social Comparison Theory | Explained in 2 min

1:48

Courtney Anderegg: Social Comparison Theory

2:26

The Impact of Facebook on Social-Comparison and Happiness: Evidence from a Natural experiment

2:39

Social Comparison Thoery

1:57

Social comparison theory

Social comparison theory, initially proposed by social psychologist Leon Festinger in 1954, centers on the belief that there is a drive within individuals to gain accurate self-evaluations. The theory explains how individuals evaluate their own opinions and abilities by comparing themselves to others in order to reduce uncertainty in these domains, and learn how to define the self.