Joneses And Upward Social Comparison Theory

The 26th President of the United States of America, Mr. Theodore Roosevelt, once said that “Comparison is the thief of joy”. The quote said by the 26th President is significant because it signifies how the concept of Keeping up with the Joneses and Upward Social Comparison Theory is accurate with regards to how comparing oneself to others, causes unhappiness to build up. Keeping up with the Joneses is the economical term that is used to describe the constant pressure or constraint that is placed upon the subconsciousness, in which people, especially the average joe, compares themselves to colleagues, friends, associates, strangers, and family with regards to lifestyle. Keeping up with the Joneses is also a well-known theory in the psychological word, but it goes by the name Upward Social Comparison Theory. Upward social comparison theory is similar to

Such comparisons may be based upon appearances, health, intelligence, ability, social status, wealth, or any other attributes. Consequently, due to the constant pressure and constraint that is placed upon the subconsciousness due to comparisons, the effects can result in negative consequences such as a life of unhappiness or in some cases, suicide. Nevertheless, there are methods and guides available in order to avoid falling into the financial pitfall of Keeping up with the Joneses such as counting your blessings and how one has nothing to gain from comparing themselves to others, only much to lose overall. To count one’s blessing means to grateful for what you possess or own. In life, there are countlessly numerous accounts of people who have wished that they could have a better life or gone down a different path, but a hip-hop recording artist by the name of Jermaine Lamarr Cole, or better known by his stage name J. Cole, once said some