Sample Reaction Piece
How Media Socialize SOCIAL COMPARISON We hold others’ attributes up to our own in order to learn what our culture values as well as to gauge how well we fit into that landscape. We do it all the time, usually without even realizing, and we do it with a goal in mind (e.g. to bridge any perceived gap). In this wildly subjective means of comparing, motivations range; some compare themselves with those perceived as inferior to them, in order to feel better about themselves. Others fare less rosily, when they chose to compare to those they perceive as superior. Consequences of this behavior—mainly in regard to self-esteem—differ from comparison to comparison, based on the motivations and perceptions involved. SOCIAL IDENTITY We are molded by the social groups we are—or aren’t—a part of. We usually sort ourselves into groups, and these groups usually sort themselves into a perceived hierarchy (with “intergroup...