Downward social comparison is a defensive tendency that is used as a means of self-evaluation. When a person looks to another individual or group that they consider to be worse off than themselves in order to feel better about their self or personal situation, they are making a downward social comparison.

Social Categorization, Psychology of Social categorization is the process by which people categorize themselves and others into differentiated groups. Categorization simplifies perception and cognition related to the social world by detecting inherent similarity relationships or by imposing structure on it (or both).

Social comparison theory was first proposed in 1954 by psychologist Leon Festinger and suggested that people have an innate drive to evaluate themselves, often in comparison to others.

Social comparison theory also suggests that social comparison has an important influence on human behavior and psychology (Festinger, 1954). Based on previous studies, it may be established that social comparison is closely related to social adaptation.

Festinger’s theory proposes that inconsistency among beliefs or behaviours causes an uncomfortable psychological tension (i.e., cognitive dissonance), leading people to change one of the inconsistent elements to reduce the dissonance or to add consonant elements to restore consonance.

Can emotions really spread like a cold or the flu? Actually, yes. Researchers call it emotional contagion. It happens when you mimic, usually without conscious effort, the emotions and expressions of people around you.

Here are some pointers to get you started.

1. Take a look at the impact of your emotions. Intense emotions aren’t all bad.
2. Aim for regulation, not repression.
3. Identify what you’re feeling.
4. Accept your emotions — all of them.
5. Keep a mood journal.
6. Take a deep breath.
7. Know when to express yourself.
8. Give yourself some space.

Action Steps:

1. Be consciously aware of your own mood. If it’s not one that will be useful to your team, change it.
2. Use your nonverbal behaviors to communicate emotional contagion.
3. Make direct eye contact with everyone on the team.
4. Neutralize a negative team member.
5. Create a positive emotional culture within the team.

Given that “organizing” by definition occurs in all of these social structures, and in light of the rich literature showing that affect has a significant influence on organizational processes and outcomes, understanding emotional contagion can help organizational behavior scholars better comprehend why and how dyadic.