Upward social comparison and self-concept: Inspiration and inferiority among art students in an advanced programme

• Published in: British journal of social psychology Vol. 44; no. 1; pp. 109 - 123
• Main Authors: Burleson, Kathryn, Leach, Colin Wayne, Harrington, David M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2005; British Psychological Society
• Subjects: Ability; Adolescent; Adolescents; Aptitude; Aspirations (Psychology); Biological and medical sciences; Creativity; Educational programmes; Educational Programs; Educational Status; Feedback; Female; Fine Arts; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hierarchy, Social; Humans; Inferiority; Inspiration; Internal-External Control; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Motivation; Peer Group; Peer Relations; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Self Concept; Selfconcept; Social attribution, perception and cognition; Social Comparison; Social psychology; Students; Students - psychology; Youth; Human; Artist; Social comparison; Grammar school; Social perception; Peer relation; Attitude; Self perception; Personality; Student; Creativity; Social interaction; Negativism; Adolescent; Self concept
• ISSN: 0144-6665; 2044-8309
• DOI: 10.1348/014466604X23509

We examined the role of social comparison in changes in the artistic self‐concept of adolescents attending an advanced arts programme. Unfavourable comparisons that promoted a sense of inferiority and favourable comparisons that promoted inspiration were measured just prior to, in the first week of, and at the end of the 6 week programme. Consistent with the ‘big fish little pond effect’, inferiority comparisons made during the programme were associated with negative changes in self‐concept. Consistent with the social comparison literature, however, inspiration comparisons made during the programme were associated with positive changes in self‐concept. Rather than suggesting that exposure to highly talented peers is necessarily unfavourable, results suggest that the interpretation of the comparisons made in situ determines the favourability of such exposure.