Question

Julia is an attractive young woman, but she often compares herself critically to magazine models and celebrities on television. this type of social comparison is a sign of _____________.

a. ​high self-worth
b. ​low self-esteem
c. ​self-enhancement
d. ​negative self-awareness

Answer 1

b.low self-esteem,she's comparing herself to someone else.

Answer 2

The correct answer is c. Self-enhancement.

We all tend to compare ourselves to others in our social world; in fact, there exists a Social Comparison theory proposed, in 1954, by psychologist Leon Festinger who adduced that people have an inborn tendency to evaluate themselves usually in comparison to others.

There are two kinds of social comparison:

1. Upward social comparison. When we compare ourselves with people we believe are better than us, most of the time looking for ways to improve our abilities.

2. Downward social comparison. When we compare to others who we consider worse off than ourselves, usually making us feel better about our own abilities.

Social comparison is an absolutely natural behavior which under normal conditions could even help us boost our self-esteem, just keep in an eye on any negative feelings that might emerge in such process.