Reference groups are the groups we use for social comparison, and they typically change based on what we are evaluating. This process of comparison and evaluation isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it can have negative consequences if our reference group isn’t appropriate.
For example, you may judge yourself to be more intelligent than your brother or less athletic than your best friend, and these judgments are incorporated into your self-concept. In terms of superiority and inferiority, we evaluate characteristics like attractiveness, intelligence, athletic ability, and so on. Social comparisons are based on two dimensions: superiority/inferiority and similarity/difference. Social comparison theory states that we describe and evaluate ourselves in terms of how we compare to other people. We also develop our self-concept through comparisons to other people. For example, you may think, “I’m glad that people can count on me to listen to their problems.” These thoughts evoke emotional responses that feed into our self-concept. This reflective process of building our self-concept is based on what other people have actually said, such as “You’re a good listener,” and other people’s actions, such as coming to you for advice. The concept of the looking glass self explains that we see ourselves reflected in other people’s reactions to us and then form our self-concept based on how we believe other people see us. Our self-concept is also formed through our interactions with others and their reactions to us. For example, you might consider yourself a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, a Southerner, or a member of the track team. In other situations, our self-concept may be tied to group or cultural membership. You might consider yourself laid back, traditional, funny, open minded, or driven, or you might label yourself a leader or a thrill seeker. In some situations, personal characteristics, such as our abilities, personality, and other distinguishing features, will best describe who we are. But each person’s self-concept is also influenced by context, meaning we think differently about ourselves depending on the situation we are in. Each person has an overall self-concept that might be encapsulated in a short list of overarching characteristics that he or she finds important. If I said, “Tell me who you are,” your answers would be clues as to how you see yourself, your self-concept. Self-concept refers to the overall idea of who a person thinks he or she is. But what influences our self-perception? How much of our self is a product of our own making and how much of it is constructed based on how others react to us? How do we present ourselves to others in ways that maintain our sense of self or challenge how others see us? We will begin to answer these questions in this section as we explore self-concept, self-esteem, and self-presentation. Just as our perception of others affects how we communicate, so does our perception of ourselves. Define self-presentation and discuss common self-presentation strategies.Discuss how social norms, family, culture, and media influence self-perception.
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