Final answer:
When a person evaluates his performance relative to peers, this process is known as social comparison. It encompasses self-perception influenced by perceived peer evaluations, reference groups, and in professional contexts, may be part of formal performance evaluations like 360-degree appraisals.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a person evaluates his performance relative to peers, he engages in social comparison. This process involves looking at the people around you to understand how you measure up to them in various aspects of life. Social comparison can influence an individual's self-esteem and sense of social standing.
Charles Herbert Cooley's concept of the looking-glass self describes how individuals develop an image of themselves based on how they imagine others perceive them. Children, for example, begin to compare themselves with their peers during school-age years, which can foster a sense of industry or feelings of inferiority, depending on how they evaluate themselves against their peer groups.
Reference groups, such as athletes, classmates, or even different cultural norms, serve as standards against which individuals compare themselves. This is true across various ages, with adolescents often looking to their peers and societal trends to assess their own interests and behaviors. In contrast, ethnocentrism involves comparing other cultures to one's own, often unfavorably.
In a professional setting, performance evaluations, such as the 360-degree appraisal method, involve an assessment that includes peer comparisons, which theoretically facilitates personal and professional growth. However, the reliability and effectiveness of such peer ratings have been questioned, suggesting that self and peer assessments can be influenced by biases and may not always accurately reflect an individual's performance.