Relativity in Social Cognition: Basic processes and novel applications of social comparisons

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Christian Unkelbach - , Universität zu Köln (Autor:in)
  • Hans Alves - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)
  • Matthew Baldwin - , University of Florida (Autor:in)
  • Jan Crusius - , Tilburg University (Autor:in)
  • Kathi Diel - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)
  • Adam D. Galinsky - , Columbia University (Autor:in)
  • Anne Gast - , Universität zu Köln (Autor:in)
  • Wilhelm Hofmann - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)
  • Roland Imhoff - , Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (Autor:in)
  • Oliver Genschow - , Universität zu Köln (Autor:in)
  • Joris Lammers - , Universität zu Köln (Autor:in)
  • Eileen Pauels - , Universität zu Köln (Autor:in)
  • Iris Schneider - , Universität zu Köln (Autor:in)
  • Sascha Topolinski - , Universität zu Köln (Autor:in)
  • Mareike Westfal - , Universität zu Köln (Autor:in)
  • Thomas Mussweiler - , London Business School (Autor:in)

Abstract

A key challenge for social psychology is to identify unifying principles that account for the complex dynamics of social behaviour. We propose psychological relativity and its core mechanism of comparison as one such unifying principle. To support our proposal, we review recent evidence investigating basic processes underlying and novel applications of social comparisons. Specifically, we clarify determinants of assimilation and contrast, evaluative consequences of comparing similarities vs. differences, attitudinal effects of spatial relativity, and how spatial arrangements determine perceived similarity, one of the antecedents of social comparisons. We then move to behavioural relativity effects on motivation and self-regulation, as well as imitation behaviour. Finally, we address relativity within the more applied areas of morality and political psychology. The reviewed research thereby illustrates how unifying principles of social cognition may be instrumental in answering old questions and discovering new phenomena and explanations.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seitenumfang54
FachzeitschriftEuropean Review of Social Psychology
Jahrgang34
Ausgabenummer2
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 2023
Peer-Review-StatusJa
Extern publiziertJa

Externe IDs

Mendeley ae81e1c6-0f99-3a41-b66e-495a3ab70d8e
WOS 000911386300001
ORCID /0000-0003-0915-0809/work/145224198

Schlagworte

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Schlagwörter

  • evaluative judgements, imitation, motivation, self-regulation, Social comparison, Motivation, Imitation, Evaluative judgements, Self-regulation