Social Comparison, Effects on Relationships

Relationship Closeness

Within close relationships, a key variable influencing whether assimilation or contrast effects occur is the closeness of the relationship between the perceiver and the target. When the perceiver has a close, intimate relationship with the target, assimilation effects are likely; when the target is not close to the perceiver, contrast effects become more likely. For example, when evaluating their own performance on a novel task, people tend to assimilate the performance of a close friend, but contrast the performance of an acquaintance. Similarly, the self-concept of the perceiver can moderate these effects. When thinking about the self as interdependent or connected to others (e.g., I am a mom, a sister, a friend, a teammate), people tend to assimilate relationship partners. Conversely, when thinking about the self as independent or unique and different from others (e.g., I am smart, funny, unique, different from other people), people tend to contrast relationship partners.

Attachment Style

Although all people form relationships, they differ in their desire to pursue closeness within those relationships. Attachment theory accounts for these differences by asserting that individuals enter relationships with well-developed cognitive representations of the self and others. One dimension of the attachment behavioral system is avoidance. Individuals who are low in avoidance (hereafter referred to as nonavoidant) are comfortable with closeness and seek it in their relationships. Conversely, avoidant individuals are not comfortable with closeness and try to create mental and physical distance between themselves and their relationship partners. In addition, avoidant individuals are often involved in relationships that are low in interdependence and commitment. Thus, avoidant and nonavoidant individuals differ in their desire for, and comfort with, closeness in their relationships.

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