Ava and Rebecca just received their psychology tests back, and both made a 65 on the test. Later, Ava found out her best friend made a 95 on the test, while Rebecca found out her best friend made a 98. After noting her friend's score, Ava decides that she is "just plain dumb," while Rebecca, after seeing her friend's test score, decides that she will increase her study time and use the course supplementary site to improve her test scores. Comparing their scores to their friends' scores resulted in Ava feeling "bad" and Rebecca being motivated to improve due to their __________ comparisons.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ava and Rebecca are engaging in upward comparisons by comparing their scores to those of their friends who performed better. This type of comparison involves looking at individuals who are perceived to be in a better position or performing better in a specific area.

Ava and Rebecca Just Received Their Psychology Tests Back, and Both