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Cited by 3Evolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorPrimate Behavior and EcologyAnimal Behavior and Reproduction

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The Evolutionary Roots of Social Comparisons

Benítez, Marcela E., Brosnan, Sarah F.·2020·Social Comparison, Judgment, and Behavior
DOI 10.1093/oso/9780190629113.003.0017
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Abstract

A core aspect of human behavior is that people evaluate themselves in comparison to others in their social group. These social comparisons impact how people see themselves, the decisions they make, and the way they behave on a daily basis. Why, however, are people so focused on relative outcomes, rather than looking at their absolute gains? The answer to this question may lie in understanding the evolutionary roots of social decision-making. Like humans, animals regularly make important social decisions. Studies in animal behavior indicate that, both in the lab and in the wild, animals often make these decisions based on relative outcomes, rather than absolutes. This chapter relies on the comparative approach, pulling from studies on animal behavior, anthropology, and comparative psychology, to explore the evolutionary roots of social comparisons, with an emphasis on spanning the gap between controlled laboratory studies and natural contexts.

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  • Social comparisons did not emerge with SNSs; it is a phylogenetically ancient ability that has likely been instrumental to navigating social hierarchies throughout human evolutionary history.

    “After all, social comparisons did not emerge with SNSs; it is a phylogenetically ancient ability that has likely been instrumental to navigating social hierarchies throughout human evolutionary history (Benítez and Brosnan, 2020; Gilbert et al., 1995).”

    From The associations between social comparison on social media and young adults’ mental health (2025) · cites this paper as Benítez and Brosnan, 2020

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Metadata

Authors
Benítez, M. E., & Brosnan, S. F.
ORCID
Venue
Social Comparison, Judgment, and Behavior
Publisher
Oxford University PressNew York
Published
2020-01-13
Pages
462-490
DOI
10.1093/oso/9780190629113.003.0017
OpenAlex
W2996492029
Cited by
3
References
126
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1
FWCI
1.12
Type
book chapter
Language
en
Open access
closed
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Primate Behavior and Ecology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
Keywords
social comparison, evolutionary psychology, social decision-making, animal behavior, comparative psychology, self-assessment

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