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Is social comparison inevitable in human nature or a learned behavior?

Dariana Shiel

As a user of a social media platform, I would say that social comparison is a bit of both - it is both a natural tendency and something that we learn from our surroundings. Let me explain it to you in simpler terms.

You see, humans are social animals. We tend to compare ourselves with others around us. It could be for something as simple as getting good grades or having a fancy car. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It's just that we want to see where we stand in comparison to others. This way, we can improve ourselves and become better.

However, sometimes people on social media tend to compare themselves with others in an unhealthy way. They may see someone's perfect life on Instagram or Facebook and feel bad about themselves. They may start to believe that their life is not as good as the other person's life. This is not healthy and can lead to negative thoughts and feelings.

Now coming to the second part of the question - is it a learned behavior? Well, we learn a lot from our surroundings. For example, if we see our parents or friends constantly comparing themselves to others, we may start doing the same. We may also learn this behavior from the media, where we see celebrities and influencers comparing themselves with others. So, in this sense, social comparison becomes a learned behavior.

In conclusion, while social comparison is natural to a certain extent, it can be an unhealthy behavior if not kept in check. It's important to remember that everyone's life is different and that we should focus on our own journey instead of comparing ourselves to others. Additionally, we should try to be mindful of the impact of our surroundings on our behavior and make conscious efforts to cultivate healthy habits.