Interpreting and Inventing Social Reality

摘要: Clearly, Leon Festinger hit upon an important subject when he formulated social comparison theory nearly 50 years ago. The ways that people view their opinions, abilities, and life situations vary according to the standing of other people. Recently, during National Basketball Association lockout, star New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing said current NBA salaries were “about survival, about being able feed our families” (Newsweek, January 4, 1999, p. 108). Ewing’s salary was $18.5 million per year. That is probably enough eat on. However, amount money made by owners standard comparison. Similarly, in resigning Bernie Williams, Yankees baseball team paid outfielder $87.5 for 7 years, so Williams would not feel underpaid first baseman Mo Vaughn, who signed with California Angels $80 6 years. Why only happy if his compared well Vaughn’s?