Most individuals experience a sense of dissatisfaction when they see others who are better than them in some aspect. They tend to evaluate their own status against those close to them and often feel envious when they perceive that someone is doing better than them. This phenomenon has been extensively studied by social psychologists for years. One of the earliest studies was conducted by Merton in 1968, which suggested that people compare themselves most intensely with those physically or socially close to them, fueling jealousy. The results of this study have since been replicated by numerous researchers, including Tesser and Leary (1975), who proposed the "Social Comparison Theory." According to this theory, people compare themselves with reference groups that include people similar to them in terms of gender, age, education, occupation, and other characteristics. This is because it is easier to measure one's performance relative to an individual rather than comparing oneself to an average of all human beings.
The comparison process leads to feelings of superiority, inferiority, or parity depending upon how the individual compares himself/herself to others. Inferiority can lead to negative emotions such as envy and anger, while superiority may result in pride and happiness. These intense emotions can motivate individuals to improve themselves or engage in destructive behaviors like sabotaging others.
These feelings are not always based on reality; instead, they are influenced by cultural norms and beliefs about success and achievement.
People generally tend to compare themselves with people who are physically or socially close to them due to proximity effects. Proximity means being in a direct contact zone and easy accessibility.
If two friends live next door to each other, they will often see each other more frequently and compare their lives.
People tend to trust those closer to them more than strangers, which makes them feel comfortable sharing information regarding personal life aspects like finances, relationships, work, etc. Therefore, when they see someone doing better than them, they become jealous and try to find ways to catch up.
Social comparisons also occur among siblings, co-workers, neighbors, acquaintances, and even celebrities. The impact of comparison depends upon the individual's perception of what constitutes success or failure. Someone may consider having children as a sign of success, while another may value career advancement. This means that comparing oneself with individuals who have different goals from us can lead to distorted impressions and feelings of inferiority or superiority.
Social comparison theory explains why individuals compare themselves most intensely with people physically or socially close to them. They evaluate themselves against reference groups composed of similar individuals and experience negative emotions such as envy and anger when they perceive someone doing better than them. These intense emotions can motivate improvement or destructive behaviors like sabotage.
It is important to remember that these feelings are not always based on reality but influenced by cultural norms and beliefs about success and achievement.
Why do individuals compare themselves most intensely with people physically or socially close to them, fueling jealousy?
Individuals may feel threatened by their closest peers because they are considered more similar in terms of physical attributes, lifestyle choices, and social status. This causes them to scrutinize those around them more closely, which makes it easier for them to identify what they lack. Jealousy stems from this comparison, as it is linked to the desire to be like the other person who seems better off in some way.