ISSN 1671-3710
CN 11-4766/R

Advances in Psychological Science ›› 2016, Vol. 24 ›› Issue (4): 603-611.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1042.2016.00603

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Dimensional comparison: Intraindividual comparison between domains

LI Zhenxing1; GUO Cheng1; DENG Huan2; MAO Jun1; ZOU Wenqian3; WANG Fang1   

  1. (1 Research Center of Mental Health Education & The Lab of Mental Health and Social Adaption, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China) (2 Department of Psychology, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China) (3 Ningbo Institute of Education, Ningbo 315016, China)
  • Received:2015-09-21 Online:2016-04-15 Published:2016-04-15
  • Contact: GUO Cheng, E-mail: guochen@swu.edu.cn

Abstract:

Dimensional comparison, which is another important comparison type following social comparison and temporal comparison, refers to the process in which a single individual compares his or her ability in a target domain with that in a standard domain. Dimensional comparison predicts contrast effects when the “far comparisons” between different domains are triggered, and assimilation effects for the “near comparisons”. Although dimensional comparison and social comparison significantly influenced self-concept, social comparison exerted a stronger effect than dimensional comparison. Future research of dimensional comparison should expand its application domains, strengthen its integration with other comparison types, and improve its research methods.

Key words: dimensional comparison, internal/external frame of reference model, contrast effects, assimilation effects, self-concept