scholarly journals Social comparisons and reference group formation: Some experimental evidence

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 ◽  
pp. 75-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian M. McDonald ◽  
Nikos Nikiforakis ◽  
Nilss Olekalns ◽  
Hugh Sibly
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Group Formation ◽  
Social Comparisons

Social Comparisons in Novel Situations

2012 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 985-996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penelope Lockwood ◽  
Sarah C. Shaughnessy ◽  
Jennifer L. Fortune ◽  
Man-On Tong
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Social Comparisons ◽  
Life Transition ◽  
Cultural Environment ◽  
Sense Of Control ◽  
Novel Environment ◽  
Future Success ◽  
Significant Life ◽  
Environment Study ◽  
Future Outcomes

The authors propose that individuals transitioning to a novel environment will prefer upward comparisons, particularly those made with individuals who have experienced a similar transition. Such comparisons help to reduce uncertainty and demonstrate that future success is possible. Study 1 found that individuals facing transitions to unfamiliar situations seek upward comparisons as a result of their uncertainty. Study 2 demonstrated that individuals who perceive themselves to be making a significant life transition are especially motivated by upward comparisons. Study 3 provided evidence that upward comparisons are especially inspiring to individuals making a transition to a novel cultural environment. Study 4 provided experimental evidence that individuals in a novel cultural environment are particularly inspired by upward comparisons with other newcomers. These studies suggest that upward comparisons with individuals who have experienced a similar transition enhance individuals’ sense of control over future outcomes and play a key role during adjustment to novel environments.

Handicapped Labels and Instructional Segregation: Influences on Children's Self-Concepts versus the Perceptions of Others

1983 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Michael Coleman
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Social Comparisons ◽  
Special Education Students ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Handicapped Children ◽  
Homogeneous Groups ◽  
Developmental Models ◽  
Regular Class

Self-concept scores of preadolescent mildly handicapped children enrolled in one of three instructional settings (one- or two-hour resource and self-contained) were compared to those of regular-class students whose teachers indicated they were having sufficient academic difficulties to warrant special education placement. In addition, mothers of children in all groups were asked to complete a copy of the self-concept measure by responding to the items as they would expect their offspring to respond. The relatively higher scores for special education students as opposed to regular-class students was taken in support of the contention that (a) children's self-concepts are largely dependent on social comparisons to others in their primary reference group; and (b) partial instructional segregation in homogeneous groups may enhance young handicapped children's self-concepts by providing them a more favorable environment in which to make social comparisons. The finding that mothers of handicapped children consistently underestimated their children's scores while mothers of regular-class children overestimated their offspring's results was considered evidence that handicapped labels might alter others' perceptions of how special education students feel about themselves. However, no evidence was found to suggest that the low self-concept estimates on the part of handicapped mothers influenced their children's scores. The findings are synthesized within a discussion of new cognitive-developmental models of self-concept formation and maintenance that call into question many long-held assumptions about the influence of special education on children's self-concept.

scholarly journals Sharks shape the geometry of a selfish seal herd: experimental evidence from seal decoys

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alta De Vos ◽  
M. Justin O'Riain
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Predation Risk ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Group Formation ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Selfish Herd ◽  
Fur Seal ◽  
Cape Fur Seal ◽  
Shark Attacks ◽  
Proportional Reduction

Many animals respond to predation risk by forming groups. Evolutionary explanations for group formation in previously ungrouped, but loosely associated prey have typically evoked the selfish herd hypothesis. However, despite over 600 studies across a diverse array of taxa, the critical assumptions of this hypothesis have remained collectively untested, owing to several confounding problems in real predator–prey systems. To solve this, we manipulated the domains of danger of Cape fur seal ( Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus ) decoys to provide evidence that a selfish reduction in a seals' domain of danger results in a proportional reduction in its predation risk from ambush shark attacks. This behaviour confers a survival advantage to individual seals within a group and explains the evolution of selfish herds in a prey species. These findings empirically elevate Hamilton's selfish herd hypothesis to more than a ‘theoretical curiosity’.

Social comparisons across cultures II: Change and stability in self-views – experimental evidence

2009 ◽  
pp. 318-344
Author(s):  
S. Guimond ◽  
A. Chatard ◽  
N. R. Branscombe ◽  
S. Brunot ◽  
A. P. Buunk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Social Comparisons

scholarly journals Social Comparisons in Wage Delegation: Experimental Evidence

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Charness ◽  
Ramón Cobo-Reyes ◽  
Juan A. Lacomba ◽  
Francisco Lagos ◽  
Jose Maria Perez Sanchez
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Social Comparisons

scholarly journals Social comparisons in wage delegation: experimental evidence

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 433-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Charness ◽  
Ramón Cobo-Reyes ◽  
Juan A. Lacomba ◽  
Francisco Lagos ◽  
Jose Maria Perez
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Social Comparisons
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