Social Comparison Theory

Generally speaking, as one of many theories and concepts dedicated to understanding the self, social comparison theory can be described as a sociological framework that addresses the complex process of self-evaluation to further one's understanding of one's identity. This entry begins with a historical overview and then discusses historical and current understandings and applications of social comparison theory.

Historical Overview

The formal articulation of social comparison theory can be traced back to Leon Festinger who published an article titled “A Theory of Social Comparison Processes” in ...

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