The False Comparison Effect
Introduction
This study deals with the way people perceive themselves and how they rate their positive attributes in comparison to others, thus dealing with the social thinking sphere of Social Psychology. To be more precise, the study involves personal behavior and attitudes: More specifically, it deals with the False Comparison Effect. The False Comparison Effect is when we compare ourselves to others to our advantage. We tend to highlight our strengths in ability, opinions, and actions, while in general, we do not make our flaws stand out; we present them as being in the norms (Feldman, 1995). Everyone tries to be above or within the norms, so if one is not within those norms he or she will be considered differently and may receive negative judgments. Is it really that bad to have strengths and weaknesses? As we will see, the people who do admit their weakness are not very well perceived by their peers compared to the people who have the same weakness but do not admit them.
There are two types of false comparison effects; the False Consensus Effect and the False Uniqueness Effect. People often have the same opinions and behaviors. One who believes that others have the same opinions and actions as they do more than is actually true, experience the False Consensus Effect (Feldman, 1995). Most people modify their thoughts and behavior in relation to their surroundings. This is done so they will feel good about themselves, thus improving their self-esteem (Feldman, 1995). Our thoughts and behaviors greatly depend on our social relations since we tend to associate with people who have more or less the same values and goals as we do. The False Consensus Effect makes us critical of others' actions and opinions if they differ from our own (Feldman, 1995). This process has a lot to do with the availability heuristic. Because of these associations, we create a complete surrounding of agreement and similarities. This makes us vulnerable to the availability heuristics because the more available the opinions and actions are, the more normal they seem (Feldman, 1995). It is because of the False Consensus Effect that people focus on, emphasize and evaluate negative behaviors in one who acts differently from them.
Introduction
This study deals with the way people perceive themselves and how they rate their positive attributes in comparison to others, thus dealing with the social thinking sphere of Social Psychology. To be more precise, the study involves personal behavior and attitudes: More specifically, it deals with the False Comparison Effect. The False Comparison Effect is when we compare ourselves to others to our advantage. We tend to highlight our strengths in ability, opinions, and actions, while in general, we do not make our flaws stand out; we present them as being in the norms (Feldman, 1995). Everyone tries to be above or within the norms, so if one is not within those norms he or she will be considered differently and may receive negative judgments. Is it really that bad to have strengths and weaknesses? As we will see, the people who do admit their weakness are not very well perceived by their peers compared to the people who have the same weakness but do not admit them.
There are two types of false comparison effects; the False Consensus Effect and the False Uniqueness Effect. People often have the same opinions and behaviors. One who believes that others have the same opinions and actions as they do more than is actually true, experience the False Consensus Effect (Feldman, 1995). Most people modify their thoughts and behavior in relation to their surroundings. This is done so they will feel good about themselves, thus improving their self-esteem (Feldman, 1995). Our thoughts and behaviors greatly depend on our social relations since we tend to associate with people who have more or less the same values and goals as we do. The False Consensus Effect makes us critical of others' actions and opinions if they differ from our own (Feldman, 1995). This process has a lot to do with the availability heuristic. Because of these associations, we create a complete surrounding of agreement and similarities. This makes us vulnerable to the availability heuristics because the more available the opinions and actions are, the more normal they seem (Feldman, 1995). It is because of the False Consensus Effect that people focus on, emphasize and evaluate negative behaviors in one who acts differently from them.
