Relevance and Attainability

Relevance and Attainability

Reviewed by Faisal Zaidi

The proposal that a star affects self-views when the field matters to the person, inspiring when success looks attainable and deflating when it does not.

What it is

Lockwood and Kunda found that superstars affected self-views only when the star's field was relevant to the participant. Relevant stars provoked self-enhancement and inspiration when similar success seemed attainable, for example when there was still time to achieve it, and self-deflation when it seemed out of reach.

In effect

In the article on why we compare ourselves to others, it is the condition that decides whether an upward comparison helps.

What it does not say

It concerns role models in a person's own field and does not say that every upward comparison is helpful.

Sources

  1. Lockwood, P., & Kunda, Z. (1997). Superstars and me: Predicting the impact of role models on the self. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73(1), 91-103.