8.3

• social connection refers to the belief that we belong to a group and generally feel close to others
• strong social connection

  • foster empathy
  • higher self-esteem
  • trusting relationships
• weak social connections

  • feeling misunderstood
  • difficulty relating
  • 'outsider' feeling
• social comparison theory suggests that to gain as accurate understanding of who we are, we have a drive to make decisions, evalutions and judgements about ourselves in relation to those aorund us
• upward social comparison - comparing self to superior others

  + helps to make decisions

  + regulate emotions

  + inspiring

  -feeling inadequate

  -negative mood

  -low self-esteem
• lateral social comparison - comparing self to equal others

  + supports us to make accurate judgements about self
• downward social comparison - comparing self to lower others

  + improves confidence

  -perpretrate stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination