The Effects of Social Comparisons on Happiness in a Motivational Context

The Effects of Social Comparisons on Happiness in a Motivational Context

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Garofalo, Giovanni J.
Language:English
Published: Kent State University / OhioLINK 2008
Subjects:
Psychology
Social Comparison
Goals
Motivation
Emotion
Online Access:http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1216330486
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spelling ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-kent12163304862021-08-03T05:36:32Z The Effects of Social Comparisons on Happiness in a Motivational Context Garofalo, Giovanni J. Psychology Social Comparison Goals Motivation Emotion Previous research has found a negative relationship between happiness and the importance an individual places on striving towards extrinsic goals. In contrast, happiness has been shown to be positively related to the importance an individual places on intrinsic goals. This study seeks to explore ways these two types of motivation differ in functioning by taking an in depth look at social comparisons within both types of goal striving and how those comparisons influence judgments of happiness. The importance of extrinsic and intrinsic goals were measured using an adapted version of the Aspiration Index (Kasser & Ryan, 1993), and social comparison orientation was measured using the Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure (Gibbons & Buunk, 1999). Using a 2 (Goal Outcome: success vs. failure) x 2 (Social Comparison Direction: downward vs. lateral) x 2 (Goal Type: extrinsic vs. intrinsic) factorial design, a series of vignettes were written describing goal striving in everyday life, which participants were instructed to read and imagine themselves in each situation. After reading each vignette participants reported how happy they thought they would be in that scenario. Contrary to hypotheses, intrinsic and extrinsic importance scores were related equally to social comparison orientation. However, a hypothesized 2-way interaction was found between comparison direction and goal type, suggesting that the manipulation of social comparisons had greater effects on happiness in extrinsic contexts compared to intrinsic contexts. However, other findings painted a more complex picture of how motivations and social comparisons may interact, and urge that further research attempting to link specific motivations with happiness should consider the effects of social comparisons. 2008-07-18 English text Kent State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1216330486 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1216330486 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.
collection NDLTD
language English
sources NDLTD
topic Psychology
Social Comparison
Goals
Motivation
Emotion
spellingShingle Psychology
Social Comparison
Goals
Motivation
Emotion
Garofalo, Giovanni J.
The Effects of Social Comparisons on Happiness in a Motivational Context
author Garofalo, Giovanni J.
author_facet Garofalo, Giovanni J.
author_sort Garofalo, Giovanni J.
title The Effects of Social Comparisons on Happiness in a Motivational Context
title_short The Effects of Social Comparisons on Happiness in a Motivational Context
title_full The Effects of Social Comparisons on Happiness in a Motivational Context
title_fullStr The Effects of Social Comparisons on Happiness in a Motivational Context
title_full_unstemmed The Effects of Social Comparisons on Happiness in a Motivational Context
title_sort effects of social comparisons on happiness in a motivational context
publisher Kent State University / OhioLINK
publishDate 2008
url http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1216330486
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