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Concept of the Week · Episode 15
The idea that we judge much of what matters to us, our abilities, our possessions, our lives, by comparing ourselves with other people. It comes from the psychologist Leon Festinger, in 1954.
Explained by Professor Peter Kinderman, clinical psychologist · First published 28 October 2026 · Updated 28 October 2026
Leon Festinger, an American social psychologist, set out social comparison theory in 1954 in the journal Human Relations. He argued that people have a drive to evaluate their opinions and abilities, and where there is no objective standard they do it by comparing themselves with others, usually others who are similar. Later work separated upward comparison, with people who seem better off, which can motivate or deflate, from downward comparison, with people who seem worse off, which can comfort. Research on relative income found that how people feel about their pay depends partly on what their neighbours earn.
Social comparison theory. Leon Festinger's idea, from 1954, that we judge much of what matters to us against other people: the house, the car, the lifestyle. It motivates us, and it makes people smug or bitter. Peter's question is where you get your goals from.
Peter's take on the show is that it is what we do, and it is a bit of a nightmare: it motivates us, and it makes people smug and unbearable or resentful and bitter, and it makes people chase the wrong things. He described experiments in which people choose £10 for themselves and £5 for their opponent over £10 and £20, so as not to be outdone, and argued that the more useful question is where we get our goals from. Hilary's version: we all like to win a race, but enter the races you actually want to win. The idea ran through the episode, into notoriety as a motive for violence, Bryan Johnson's longevity project and buying collectables for their market value.
Hear it in context
Social comparison, Bryan Johnson and a £1.5m Pokémon attic
Why do some people run towards danger? The Concept of the Week is social comparison theory, and it runs through a school shooting in Oregon, Bryan Johnson's quest to live forever and a £1.56m Pokémon attic.
The psychologist Leon Festinger, in a 1954 paper in the journal Human Relations.
Judging your house, car or holiday by your neighbours', or choosing a smaller reward so that someone else does not get a bigger one. Peter describes experiments where people do exactly that.
Peter's Psych Hack: before you do something, ask whether you would do it just for you. Try doing something you enjoy and telling nobody about it, no photo and no post.
The primary literature behind the idea, for anyone who wants to check it. Also on Wikipedia.
Kinderman, P. (2026). Social comparison theory. Concept of the Week, Experience: Analysing Newsmakers, episode 15, with Hilary Jeffs. https://www.experiencepodco.com/concepts/social-comparison-theory.html
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Concept of the Week is a regular feature of Experience: Analysing Newsmakers, the weekly podcast in which clinical psychologist Professor Peter Kinderman and communications expert Hilary Jeffs take the news apart to see what is driving it. Peter picks a psychological idea most of us have half-remembered wrong and explains what it actually shows. New episodes every Tuesday. Where to listen.