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Individual Differences in Social Comparison and its Consequences for Life Satisfaction: Introducing a Short Scale of the Iowa–Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure

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  • Simone Schneider
  • Jürgen Schupp

Abstract

Research in social psychology has shown individual variation in the tendency to compare one’s own opinions and abilities with those of other people, raising the question of whether social comparisons are psychological dispositions. To test the empirical validity of this proposition, Gibbons and Buunk ( 1999 ) created an instrument, the Iowa–Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure (INCOM), that measures the tendency to engage in social comparison and captures central aspects of the self and the other. This paper analyzes the reliability and validity of the INCOM scale for the German population and discusses potentials for shortening the instrument for continued use in large-scale population surveys. Interdependencies between psychological and structural characteristics are investigated and consequences for life satisfaction discussed. The results show evidence that individuals systematically vary in their orientation towards social comparison. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

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  • Simone Schneider & Jürgen Schupp, 2014. "Individual Differences in Social Comparison and its Consequences for Life Satisfaction: Introducing a Short Scale of the Iowa–Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 115(2), pages 767-789, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:115:y:2014:i:2:p:767-789
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-012-0227-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Simone Schneider & Jürgen Schupp, 2010. "Measuring the Selection of Pay Referents: A Methodological Analysis of the Questions on Pay Referents in the 2008 and 2009 SOEP Pretest Modules," Data Documentation 48, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
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    2. Tim Friehe & Mario Mechtel & Markus Pannenberg, 2014. "Positional Income Concerns: Prevalence and Relationship with Personality and Economic Preferences," IAAEU Discussion Papers 201411, Institute of Labour Law and Industrial Relations in the European Union (IAAEU).
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    4. Antje Jantsch & Gertrud Buchenrieder & Thomas Dufhues & Judith Möllers, 2024. "Social Comparisons Under Pandemic Stress: Income Reference Groups, Comparison Patterns, and the Subjective Well-Being of German Students," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 25(7), pages 1-24, October.
    5. Lisa Bruttel & Werner Güth & Ralph Hertwig & Andreas Orland, 2020. "Do people harness deliberate ignorance to avoid envy and its detrimental effects?," CEPA Discussion Papers 17, Center for Economic Policy Analysis.
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    7. Fang-Hua Jhang, 2018. "The Five Dimensions of Money Attitudes and Their Link to Changes in Life Satisfaction Among Taiwanese Adolescents in Poverty," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 13(2), pages 399-418, June.

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