Analysis: A Conceptual Framework and Some Empirical Data Regarding Comparisons of Social Rewards

Analysis:
A Conceptual Framework and Some Empirical Data Regarding Comparisons of Social Rewards
Martin Patchen
Sociometry, Vol. 24, No. 2
(Jun., 1961), 136-156.

People always look to others for examples of behavior. We are always comparing ourselves with other people

You are the comparer; the other person is the Comparison Person.

Types of wage comparisons
Overall Position of Comparison Person on Attributes Relevant to Earnings	Comparison Person
	Earns Less	Earns Same	Earns More
Superior	A Comparison to those earning less who are generally superior to the comparer on attributes related to earnings. Dissonant in favor of comparer	B Comparisons to those earning the same who are generally superior to the comparer on attributes related to earnings. Dissonant in favor of comparer	C Consonant "He has more education; he is a college graduate; he should earn more." Dissonant--in favor of comparison person "We do the same work but there's a big difference in pay, however, he is older, has tenure, etc." Dissonant--in favor of comparer: "Considering the differences in our education, I'm doing pretty well." "...our wages are not that far apart considering how many years he spent in college for his job." Culturally Appropriate
Similar	D Comparisons to those earning less and who are closely similar to oneself on attributes relevant to earnings. Dissonance in favor of comparer	E Comparison to those who earn the same as oneself and who are also closely similar on attributes relevant to earnings. Consonant	F Comparison to someone earning more who is generally similar to the comparer on attributes related to earnings. Dissonant--in favor of the comparison person "It's not fair, but what are you going to do?"
Inferior	G Comparisons to those earning less and who are inferior to oneself on attributes relevant to earnings. Consonant Dissonant in favor of comparison person Dissonant in favor of comparer	H Comparison to someone earning the same who is generally inferior on attributes related to pay. Dissonant in favor of comparison person "Doesn't pull his or her weight"	I Comparison to someon earning more who is generally inferior to the comparer on attributes related to pay. Dissonant in favor of comparison person. Righteous indignation, name calling, back-biting, blame for societal problems.

Hypothesis 1: Satisfaction with wage comparisons will be a junction not of objective differences in earnings in itself, but of the objective dissonance of the comparison as a whole. Men are more satisfied with comparisons to "clerical-sales" or "proprietory-managerial" persons who earn more than themselves than they are with comparisons to blue-collar workers who earn more than they do.

Hypothesis 2: Men who are satisfied with specific wage comparisons will explain their satisfaction in terms of an consonance between relative wage standing and relative standing on attributes related to pay; men who are dissatisfied with specific wage comparisons will explain their dissatisfaction in terms of a dissonance between relative wage standing and standing on attrubites relevant to pay.We have predicted not only that objective dissonance will lead to feelings of dissatisfaction with comparisons, but that feelings of satisfaction or dissatisfaction will be subjectively based on perceptions of consonance or dissonance.

Satisfied	Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied*	Dissatisfied
The Greatest Reasons for Satisfaction or Dissatisfaction with one's own earnings:
Comparer has a financial compensating advantages. Comparer has a non-financial compensating advantage. The comparison person is deemed superior. The comparison person is perceived as a role model.	Coparison person's job is different. Comparer is not interested in comparing earnings. Comparer earns enough for his needs.	Comparer is equal or superior in what his job requires. Comparer wants better living standards.
"I am satisfied to be earning less, because there is some other difference between us that makes the wage difference okay." or "I am satisfied because the difference in wages is consonant with other differences between us."	* The rationalization that one is either not intererested in comparing earnings, or claims to earn enough, is non-congruent with Western Consumer Culture. Less than 3% of the respondents answered that they "earned enough for their needs."

Hypothesis 3: Men who see the responsibility for their occupational and wage position as not being their own will be more likely than others to choose dissonant wage comparisons. If the individual sees himself as responsible for his present job, a dissonant wage comparison will make him feel ashamed. Compared to the other person, he is a failure.