Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Social Comparison and Influence in Groups

  • Chapter
Handbook of Social Comparison

Part of the book series: The Springer Series in Social Clinical Psychology ((SSSC))

Abstract

Kathi Hudson worried that members of Operation Rescue, a pro-life group, were engaged in illegal activities that would limit women’s rights. So she infiltrated the group to spy on their procedures and activities. Two years later she abandoned her pro-choice attitudes and became a born-again Christian. Tobias Schneebaum (1969), a painter from New York City, encountered a tribe called the Akaramas when visiting Peru. For 6 months he lived with them, adopting their customs so completely that he joined them in attacks on neighboring tribes and cannibalistic rituals. David Moore joined a new-age group interested in personal development, religion, and space travel. He gradually adopted the group’s standards as his own, to the point that he believed that a passing comet was actually a spacecraft sent to collect his consciousness. He and 38 other members of the group (Heaven’s Gate) tried to board the ship by committing suicide.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Affleck, G., & Tennen, H. (1991). Social comparison and coping with major medical problems. In J. Suls & T. A. Wills (Eds.), Social comparison: Contemporary theory and research (pp. 369–394). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen, V. L., & Wilder, D. A. (1977). Social comparison, self-evaluation, and conformity to the group. In J. M. Suls & R. L. Miller (Eds.), Social comparison processes (pp. 187–208). Washington, DC: Hemisphere.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen, V. L., & Wilder, D. A. (1980). Impact of group consensus and social support on stimulus meaning: Mediation of conformity by cognitive restructuring. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 1116–1124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alvaro, E. M., & Crano, W. D. (1997). Indirect minority influence: Evidence for leniency in source evaluation and counterargumentation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72, 949–964.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alwin, D. F., Cohen, R. J., & Newcomb, T. M. (1991). Political attitudes over the life span: The Bennington women after fifty years. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arrowood, A. J. (1978). Social comparison theory: Revived from neglect. Contemporary Psychology, 23, 490–491.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asch, S. E. (1952). Social psychology. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Asch, S. E. (1955). Opinions and social pressures. Scientific American, 193(5), 31–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Back, K. W. (1951). Influence through social communication. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 46, 9–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, S. M., & Petty, R. E. (1994). Majority and minority influence: Source-position imbalance as a determinant of message scrutiny. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 5–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berkowitz, L. (1971). Reporting an experiment: A case study in leveling, sharpening, and assimilation. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 7, 237–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blascovich, J., Ginsburg, G. P., & Veach, T. L. (1975). A pluralistic explanation of choice shifts on the risk dimension. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 31, 422–429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, R. (1974). Further comment on the risky shift. American Psychologist, 29, 468–470.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, V., & Paulus, P. B. (1996). A simple dynamic model of social factors in group brainstorming. Small Group Research, 27, 91–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buehler, R., & Griffin, D. (1994). Change-of-meaning effects in conformity and dissent: Observing construal processes over time. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 984–996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buunk, B. P. (1995). Comparison direction and comparison dimension among disabled individuals: Toward a refined conceptualization of social comparison under stress. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 21, 316–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, J. D., Tesser, A., & Fairey, P. J. (1986). Conformity and attention to the stimulus: Some temporal and contextual dynamics. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 315–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cartwright, D. (1979). Contemporary social psychology in historical perspective. Social Psychology Quarterly, 42, 82–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, S., Schechter, D., & Chaiken, S. (1996). Getting at the truth or getting along: Accuracy-versus impression-motivated heuristic and systematic processing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71, 262–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cialdini, R. B., Kallgren, C. A., & Reno, R. R. (1991). A focus theory of normative conduct: A theoretical refinement and reevaluation of the role of norms in human behavior. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 24, 201–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cialdini, R. B., Reno, R. R., & Kallgren, C. A. (1990). A focus theory of normative conduct: Recycling the concept of norms to reduce littering in public places. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, 1015–1026.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooley, C. H. (1909). Social organization. New York: Scribner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crandall, C. S. (1988). Social contagion of binge eating. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 55, 588–598.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ai]De Dreu, C. K. W., & De Vries, N. K. (1996). Differential processing and attitude change following majority versus minority arguments. British Journal of Social Psychology, 35, 77–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deaux, K., Reid, A., Mizrahi, K., & Cotting, D. (1999). Connect the person to the social: The functions of social identification. In T. R. Tyler, R. M. Kramer, & O. P. John (Eds.), The psychology of the social self (pp. 91–113). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deutsch, M., & Gerard, H. B. (1955). A study of normative and informational social influences upon individual judgment. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 51, 629–636.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durkheim, É. (1897/1966). Suicide. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Festinger, L. (1950). Informal social communication. Psychological Review, 57, 271–282.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Festinger, L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. Human Relations, 7, 117–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Festinger, L. (1955). Social psychology and group processes. Annual Review of Psychology, 6, 187–216.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Festinger, L. (1980). Looking backward. In L. Festinger (Ed.), Retrospections on social psychology (pp. 236–254). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Festinger, L., Gerard, H. B., Hymovitch, B., Kelley, H. H., & Raven, B. H. (1952). The influence process in the presence of extreme deviates. Human Relations, 5, 327–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Festinger, L., Schachter, S., & Back, K. (1950). Social pressures in informal groups. New York: Harper.

    Google Scholar 

  • Festinger, L., & Thibaut, J. (1951). Interpersonal communication in small groups. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 46, 92–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Festinger, L., Torrey, J., & Willerman, B. (1954). Self-evaluation as a function of attraction to the group. Human Relations, 7, 161–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, J. D. (1988). Possible effects of reference group-based social influence on AIDS-risk behavior and AIDS-prevention. American Psychologist, 43, 914–920.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, W. A., & Fisher, J. D. (1993). A general social psychological model for changing AIDS risk behavior. In J. B. Pryor & G. D. Reeder (Eds.), The social psychology of HIV infection (pp. 127–153). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forsyth, D. R. (1999). Group dynamics (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • French, J. R. P., Jr., & Raven, B. (1959). The bases of social power. In D. Cartwright (Ed.), Studies in social power (pp. 150–167). Ann Arbor, MI: Institute for Social Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerard, H. B. (1953). The effect of different dimensions of disagreement on the communication process in small groups. Human Relations, 6, 249–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibbons, F. X., & Gerrard, M. (1989). Effects of upward and downward social comparison on mood states. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 8, 14–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goethals, G. R., & Darley, J. M. (1987). Social comparison theory: Self-evaluation and group life. In B. Mullen & G. R. Goethals (Eds.), Theories of group behavior (pp. 21–47). New York: Springer-Verlag.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Goethals, G. R., Messick, D. M., & Allison, S. T. (1991). The uniqueness bias: Studies of constructive social comparison. In J. Suls & T. A. Wills (Eds.), Social comparison: Contemporary theory and research (pp. 149–176). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goethals, G. R., & Zanna, M. P. (1979). The role of social comparison in choice shifts. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37, 1469–1476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, D., & Buehler, R. (1993). Role of construal processes in conformity and dissent. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65, 657–669.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gross, S. R., & Miller, N. (1997). The “golden section” and bias in perceptions of social consensus. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 1, 241–271.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hastie, R., Penrod, S. D., & Pennington, N. (1983). Inside the jury. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helgeson, V. S., & Michelson, K. D. (1995). Motives for social comparison. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 21, 1200–1209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hinsz, V. B., Tindale, R. S., & Vollrath, D. A. (1997). The emerging conceptualization of groups as information processors. Psychological Bulletin, 121, 43–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, P. J., Festinger, L., & Lawrence, D. H. (1954). Tendencies toward group comparability in competitive bargaining. Human Relations, 7, 141–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyman, H. H. (1960). Reflections on reference groups. Public Opinion Quarterly, 24, 383–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyman, H. H. (1980). The psychology of status. Archives of Psychology, 38(269). (Originally published in 1942).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyman, H. H., & Singer, E. (1968). Introduction. In H. H. Hyman & E. Singer (Eds.), Readings in reference group theory and research (pp. 3–21). New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Isenberg, D. J. (1986). Group polarization: A critical review and meta-analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50, 1141–1151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, R. C., & Campbell, D. T. (1961). The perpetuation of an arbitrary tradition through several generations of a laboratory microculture. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 62, 649–658.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Janis, I. L. (1982). Groupthink: Psychological studies of policy decisions and fiascos (2nd ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, E. E., & Gerard, H. B. (1967). Foundations of social psychology. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karau, S. J., & Williams, K. D. (1993). Social loafing: A meta-analytic review and theoretical integration. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65, 681–706.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, D., & Allport, F. H. (1928). Student attitudes: A report of the Syracuse University research study. Syracuse, NY: Craftsman Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, H. H. (1952). Two functions of reference groups. In G. E. Swanson, T. M. Newcomb, & E. L. Hartley (Eds.), Readings in social psychology (2nd ed., pp. 410–414). New York: Holt.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, N. L., MacCoun, R. J., & Kramer, G. P. (1996). Bias in judgment: Comparing individuals and groups. Psychological Review, 103, 687–719.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larson, J. R., Foster-Fishman, P. G., & Keys, C. B. (1994). The discussion of shared and unshared information in decision-making groups. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 446–461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Latané, B., & Darley, J. M. (1970). The unresponsive bystander: Why doesn’t he help? New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Latané, B., & L’Herrou, T. (1996). Social clustering in the Conformity Game: Dynamic social impact in electronic groups. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70, 1218–1230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levine, J. M. (1980). Reaction to opinion deviance in small groups. In P. B. Paulus (Ed.), Psychology of group influence (pp. 375–429). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewin, K. (1935). Psycho-sociological problems of a minority group. Character and Personality, 3, 175–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockwood, P., & Kunda, Z. (1997). Superstars and me: Predicting the impact of role models on the self. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 91–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mackie, D. (1987). Systematic and nonsystematic processing of majority and minority persuasive communications. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53, 41–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacNeil, M. K., & Sherif, M. (1976). Norm change over subject generations as a function of arbitrariness of prescribed norms. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 34, 762–773.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Major, B., Testa, M., & Bylsma, W. H. (1991). Responses to upward and downward social comparisons: The impact of esteem-relevance and perceived control. In J. Suls & T. A. Wills (Eds.), Social comparison: Contemporary theory and research (pp. 237–260). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merton, R. K., & Kitt, A. S. (1950). Contributions to the theory of reference group behavior. In R. K. Merton & P. F. Lazarfeld (Eds.), Continuities in social research: Studies in the scope and method of “The American Soldier” (pp. 40–105). Glencoe, IL: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milgram, S. (1963). Behavioral study of obedience. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67, 371–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, D. T., & McFarland, C. (1991). When social comparison goes awry: The case of pluralistic ignorance. In J. Suls & T. A. Wills (Eds.), Social comparison: Contemporary theory and research (pp. 287–313). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, D. T., & Prentice, D. A. (1996). The construction of social norms and standards. In E. T. Higgins & A. W. Kruglanski (Eds.), Social psychology: Handbook of basic principles (pp. 799–829). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mook, D. G. (1983). In defense of external invalidity. American Psychologist, 38, 379–387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, H. T. (1921). The comparative influence of majority and expert opinion. American Journal of Psychology, 32, 16–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moscovici, S. (1994). Three concepts: Minority, conflict, and behavioral styles. In S. Moscovici, A. Mucchi-Faina, & A. Maass (Eds.), Minority influence (pp. 233–251). Chicago: Nelson-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moscovici, S., Lage, E., & Naffrechoux, M. (1969). Influence of a consistent minority on the responses of a majority in a color perception task. Sociometry, 12, 365–380.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myers, D. G. (1978). The polarizing effects of social comparison. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 14, 554–563.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myers, D. G., & Lamm, H. (1976). The group polarization phenomenon. Psychological Bulletin, 83, 602–627.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nemeth, C. J., & Wachtler, J. (1983). Creative problem solving as a result of majority vs. minority influence. European Journal of Social Psychology, 13, 45–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newcomb, T. M. (1943). Personality and social change. New York: Dryden Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paulus, P. B., & Dzindolet, M. T. (1993). Social influence processes in group brainstorm. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 64, 575–586.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paulus, P. B., Larey, T. S., Putman, V. L., Leggett, K. L., & Roland, E. J. (1996). Social influence processes in computer brainstorming. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 18, 3–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, R. S., & Nemeth, C. J. (1996). Focus versus flexibility: Majority and minority influence can both improve performance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 22, 14–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pollis, N. P., Montgomery, R. L., & Smith, T. G. (1975). Autokinetic paradigms: A reply to Alexander, Zucker, and Brody. Sociometry, 38, 358–373.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prentice, D. A., & Miller, D. T. (1993). Pluralistic ignorance and alcohol use on campus: Some consequences of misperceiving a social norm. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 64, 243–254.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pruitt, D. G. (1971). Choice shifts in group discussion: An introductory review. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 20, 339–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raven, B. H. (1992). A power/interaction model of interpersonal influence: French and Raven thirty years later. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 7, 217–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reno, R. R., Cialdini, R. B., & Kallgren, C. A. (1993). The transsituational influence of social norms. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 64, 104–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ringelmann, M. (1913). Research on animate sources of power: The work of man. Annales de l’Institut National Agronomique, 2nd series (XII), 1–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roper, E. (1940). Classifying respondents by social status. Public Opinion Quarterly, 4, 270–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roy, M. C., Gauvin, S., & Limayem, M. (1996). Electronic group brainstorming: The role of feedback and productivity. Small Group Research, 27, 214–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schachter, S. (1951). Deviation, rejection, and communication. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 46, 190–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schachter, S. (1959). The psychology of affiliation. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneebaum, T. (1969). Keep the river on your right. New York: Grove Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seta, J. J., Seta, C. E., & Donaldson, S. (1991). The impact of comparison processes on coactors’ frustration and willingness to expend effort. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 17, 560–568.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, C. (1930). The jack-roller. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherif, M. (1966). The psychology of social norms. New York: Harper & Row. (Originally published in 1936)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shibutani, T. (1955). Reference groups as perspectives. American Journal of Sociology, 60, 562–569.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singer, E. (1981). Reference groups and social evaluations. In M. Rosenberg & R. H. Turner (Eds.), Social psychology: Sociological perspectives (pp. 66–93). New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyder, C. R., Cheavens, J., & Sympson, S. C. (1997). Hope: An individual motive for social commerce. Group Dynamics, 1, 107–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stasser, G. (1992). Pooling of unshared information during group discussions. In S. Worchel, W. Wood, & J. A. Simpson (Eds.), Group process and productivity (pp. 48–67). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stasser, G., Taylor, L. A., & Hanna, C. (1989). Information sampling in structured and unstructured discussions of three-and six-person groups. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 67–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stouffer, S. A., Lumsdaine, A. A., Lumsdaine, M. H., Williams, R. M., Jr., Smith, M B., Janis, I. L., Star, S. A., & Cottrell, L. S., Jr. (1949a). The American soldier: Combat and its aftermath (Vol. 2). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stouffer, S. A., Suchman, E. A., DeVinney, L. C., Star, S. A., & Williams, R. M., Jr. (1949b). The American soldier: Adjustment during army life (Vol. 1). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sumner, W. G. (1906). Folkways. New York: Ginn.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S. E., Falke, R. L., Shoptaw, S. J., & Lichtman, R. R. (1986). Social support, support groups, and the cancer patient. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 608–615.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tesser, A. (1988). Toward a self-evaluation maintenance model of social behavior. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 21, 181–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tesser, A. (1991). Emotion in social comparison and reflection processes. In J. Suls & T. A. Wills (Eds.), Social comparison: Contemporary theory and research (pp. 117–148). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tesser, A., & Campbell, J. (1983). Self-definition and self-evaluation maintenance. In J. Suls & A G. Greenwald (Eds.), Psychological perspectives on the self (Vol. 2, pp. 1–31). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tesser, A., Campbell, J., & Smith, M. (1984). Friendship choice and performance: Self-evaluation maintenance in children. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 561–574.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thibaut, J. W., & Strickland, L. H. (1956). Psychological set and social conformity. Journal of Personality, 25, 115–129.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thrasher, F. M. (1927). The gang. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tindale, R. S., Smith, C. M., Thomas, L. S., Filkins, J., & Sheffey, S. (1996). Shared representations and asymmetric social influence processes in small groups. In E. H. White & J. H. Davis (Eds.), Understanding group behavior: Consensual action by small groups (Vol. 1, pp. 81–104). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trost, M. R., Maass, A., & Kenrick, D. T. (1992). Minority influence: Personal relevance biases cognitive processes and reverses private acceptance. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 28, 234–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J. C. (1991). Social influence. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J. C., Hogg, M. A., Oakes, P. J., Reicher, S. D., & Wetherell, M. S. (1987). Rediscovering the social group: A self-categorization theory. New York: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vinokur, A., & Burnstein, E. (1974). The effects of partially shared persuasive arguments on group-induced shifts: A group-problem-solving approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 29, 305–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vinokur, A., & Burnstein, E. (1978). Depolarization of attitudes in groups. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36, 872–885.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler, L. (1991). A brief history of social comparison theory. In J. Suls & T. A. Wills (Eds.), Social comparison: Contemporary theory and research (pp. 3–21). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler, L., & Miyake, K. (1992). Social comparison in everyday life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 62, 760–773.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wills, T. A. (1991). Social comparison process in coping and health. In C. R. Snyder & D. R. Forsyth (Eds.), Handbook of social and clinical psychology: The health perspective (pp. 376–394). New York: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winkel, F. W., & Renssen, M. R. (1998). A pessimistic outlook on victims and an “upward bias” in social comparison expectations of victim support workers regarding their clients: Uncovering a potential threat to the quality of victim-supportive interactions. International Review of Victimology, 5, 203–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Witte, E. H. (1994). Minority influences and innovations: The search for an integrated explanation of psychological and sociological models. In S. Moscovici, A. Mucchi-Faina, & A. Maass (Eds.), Minority influence (pp. 67–93). Chicago: Nelson-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wittenbaum, G. M., & Stasser, G. (1996). Management of information in small groups. In J. L. Nye & A. M. Brower (Eds.), What’s social about social cognition? Research on socially shared cognitions in small groups (pp. 3–28). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wittenbaum, G. M., Stasser, G., & Merry, C. J. (1996). Tacit coordination in anticipation of small group task completion. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 32, 129–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, J. V., Taylor, S. E., & Lichtman, R. R. (1985). Social comparison in adjustment to breast cancer. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 49, 1169–1183.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, W., Pool, G. J., Leck, K., & Purvis, D. (1996). Self-definition, defensive processing, and influence: The normative impact of majority and minority groups. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71, 1181–1193.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, S. S., & Forsyth, D. R. (1997). Group membership and collective identity: Consequences for self-esteem. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 16, 43–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 23284-2018, USA

    Donelson R. Forsyth

Authors
  1. Donelson R. Forsyth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA

    Jerry Suls

  2. University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    Ladd Wheeler

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2000 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Forsyth, D.R. (2000). Social Comparison and Influence in Groups. In: Suls, J., Wheeler, L. (eds) Handbook of Social Comparison. The Springer Series in Social Clinical Psychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4237-7_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4237-7_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6903-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-4237-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation