Experiences of upward social comparison in entertainment contexts: Emotions, state self-esteem, and enjoyment

ABSTRACT

This study examines the self- and affect-related outcomes associated with upward social comparisons to entertainment characters. Participants (N = 218) chose one entertainment television program to view from a selection of eight available and reported their emotional responses, state self-esteem, and enjoyment post-viewing. Feelings of envy and jealousy, associated with upward contrastive social comparisons, were related to decreased state self-esteem post viewing. Alternatively, feelings of hope and inspiration, associated with upward assimilative social comparisons, were related to increased enjoyment and appreciation of the content post-viewing. Implications for a better understanding of the relationships between emotions, state self-esteem, enjoyment, and appreciation in mediated entertainment contexts are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Social comparisons
• Emotions
• State self-esteem
• Enjoyment
• Entertainment

Notes

¹ Materials associated with this study (e.g., questionnaire, de-identified raw data, analysis scripts) are available at: http://https://osf.io/mg82x/?view_only=e78b024ae15e44a48c7683bc736d7e9c.