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

Nicky Lewis

doi:10.1016/j.soscij.2019.04.011

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

Nicky Lewis

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

15 Scopus citations

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	339-354
Number of pages	16
Journal	Social Science Journal
Volume	58
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soscij.2019.04.011
State	Published - 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Western Social Science Association.

Keywords

Emotions
Enjoyment
Entertainment
Social comparisons
State self-esteem

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology
Sociology and Political Science

Access to Document

10.1016/j.soscij.2019.04.011

Cite this

@article{19d46923391d4ad9a0c15e3dee5c1581,

title = "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 = "Emotions, Enjoyment, Entertainment, Social comparisons, State self-esteem",

author = "Nicky Lewis",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 Western Social Science Association.",

year = "2021",

doi = "10.1016/j.soscij.2019.04.011",

language = "English",

volume = "58",

pages = "339--354",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Experiences of upward social comparison in entertainment contexts

T2 - Emotions, state self-esteem, and enjoyment

AU - Lewis, Nicky

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Emotions

KW - Enjoyment

KW - Entertainment

KW - Social comparisons

KW - State self-esteem

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85065602799&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85065602799&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.soscij.2019.04.011

DO - 10.1016/j.soscij.2019.04.011

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85065602799

SN - 0362-3319

VL - 58

SP - 339

EP - 354

JO - Social Science Journal

JF - Social Science Journal

IS - 3

ER -

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

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this