Social psychologist Leon Festinger proposed the theory in a 1954 paper titled "A Theory of Social Comparison Processes." His central claim was that people have a built-in drive to evaluate their own abilities and opinions, and when no objective yardstick exists, they turn to comparing themselves with other people instead.
Festinger suggested people naturally gravitate toward comparing with others who are reasonably similar to themselves, since comparing your running time to an Olympic sprinter or a toddler tells you very little useful about your own ability.
Leon Festinger's 1954 Theory
Upward vs. Downward Comparison, and Social Media
Later researchers split the idea into two directions. Upward comparison, measuring yourself against someone doing better, can be motivating but can also trigger envy or inadequacy. Downward comparison, measuring yourself against someone doing worse, tends to boost self-esteem in the short term, which is part of why people sometimes seek it out during a hard time.
Social media is often described as an engine for upward comparison because people mostly post curated highlights rather than ordinary moments. Studies, including widely cited 2013 Facebook research led by Hanna Krasnova, linked heavier passive social media use to lower life satisfaction, an effect researchers connect directly back to Festinger's original framework.
Sources
- Simply Psychology β Festinger's original theory explained
- American Psychological Association β social comparison research overview
- Britannica β upward and downward comparison
FAQ
Who came up with social comparison theory?
Social psychologist Leon Festinger introduced it in a 1954 paper, arguing that people evaluate themselves against others whenever no objective standard is available.
Is comparing yourself to others always harmful?
Not necessarily, upward comparisons can motivate genuine improvement, and downward comparisons can offer short-term comfort, though both can backfire if they become constant or one-sided.
Does social media make social comparison worse?
Research generally links heavier passive scrolling, rather than active posting or messaging, to more upward comparison and lower well-being, since feeds mostly show curated highlights.
About the Author
We reference Simply Psychology, American Psychological Association, Britannica to explain the background and current understanding of this topic.
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