Research paper
Festinger L. A theory of social comparison processes. Hum Relat. 1954;7(2):117-140. doi:10.1177/001872675400700202
Why we cite it
The foundational paper for social comparison theory. Establishes why people compare themselves to others — a drive that is fundamental to human psychology and directly relevant to eating behavior, body image, and health comparisons. Explains why people seek similar others for comparison and why group norms exert pressure toward uniformity. Supports companion 154’s thesis about the comparison trap in eating.
About the author
Leon Festinger, PhD (1919-1989), was an American social psychologist at the University of Minnesota (where he wrote this paper), later Stanford and the New School for Social Research. He studied under Kurt Lewin at the University of Iowa (PhD 1942) and worked at MIT and the University of Michigan. He originated both social comparison theory and cognitive dissonance theory, described as “the two most fruitful theories in social psychology.” He received the APA Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award in 1959.