What is the perception that one is worse off relative to those with whom one compares oneself called?

What is the perception that one is worse off relative to those with whom one compares oneself called?

• A. Relative deprivation
• B. Social comparison
• C. Upward comparison
• D. Downward comparison

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is relative deprivation—the feeling that you are worse off than the people you compare yourself to. It’s a subjective sense of lack or disadvantage that comes from evaluating your situation against a reference group and perceiving a gap between what you have and what you believe others have or deserve. This isn’t just about the amount of resources you actually control; it’s about how you feel relative to expectations and others’ circumstances. Social comparison is the broader process of comparing yourself to others to judge your opinions, abilities, or situation. Upward comparison means looking at someone better off, while downward comparison means looking at someone worse off. Relative deprivation focuses on the emotional response to the gap you perceive in those comparisons, often producing feelings like envy, resentment, or motivation to change.

The main idea here is relative deprivation—the feeling that you are worse off than the people you compare yourself to. It’s a subjective sense of lack or disadvantage that comes from evaluating your situation against a reference group and perceiving a gap between what you have and what you believe others have or deserve. This isn’t just about the amount of resources you actually control; it’s about how you feel relative to expectations and others’ circumstances.

Social comparison is the broader process of comparing yourself to others to judge your opinions, abilities, or situation. Upward comparison means looking at someone better off, while downward comparison means looking at someone worse off. Relative deprivation focuses on the emotional response to the gap you perceive in those comparisons, often producing feelings like envy, resentment, or motivation to change.