Motivation as a determinant of upward comparison

Abstract

Score on a personality test was to be used for selection to a desirable seminar (Hi Mot) or an undesirable seminar (Lo Mot). Subject chose to compare his own score with the score of someone 1, 2, or 3 ranks above or below him in a group of 7. It was found that (a) subject chose the score of someone adjacent to him in the rank order, (b) subject chose the score of someone above him in the rank order, (c) choice of someone high in the rank order was greater in the Hi Mot condition than in the Lo Mot condition, and (d) choice of someone high in the rank order was positively correlated with assumed similarity with someone high in the rank order. These results were interpreted in terms of motivation leading to assumed similarity, the latter leading in turn to comparison choices expected to confirm the assumption of similarity.