Journal
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Volume 44, Issue 4, Pages 929-942Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1016/j.jesp.2008.01.006
Keywords
above-average effect; comparative bias; social comparison; egocentrism; focalism
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Four experiments examined the relative influence of three causal processes in the above-average effect (AAE) and related comparative biases: (a) egocentrism, (b) focalism, and (c) referent group diffuseness. By manipulating the inclusion or exclusion of the self from the referent group (Experiments 1-3) or target group (Experiment 4), the relative contributions of each influence were assessed. In direct comparisons, single peers were systematically judged more favorably relative to groups including the self, suggesting that egocentrism plays a lesser role than focalism or group diffuseness. Thus, in response to the question such as How friendly is Nancy compared to the rest of its? the answer tends to be More friendly. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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