Our Brains Weren’t Built for This Much Comparison
The scale, frequency, quantification, and accessibility of social comparison have all changed, writes Dr. Ashwini Nadkarni.
The human brain, not designed for the constant bombardment of social comparison, struggles with the influx of metrics like likes on social media. This psychological phenomenon, rooted in ancient human tendencies, is not exclusive to digital platforms. Although evolutionary adaptation may have benefited from knowing one's standing within a social group, modern technology has transformed this comparison into a constant, quantifiable score.
Studies reveal that our brains evaluate social outcomes similarly to how they process gains or losses. However, the constant upward comparisons can lead to decreased self-evaluation, self-esteem, and overall life satisfaction. While hiding likes may not eliminate social comparison, it does remove one metric from the scoreboard, allowing individuals to ponder their social worth without a digital scoreboard.
The real shift lies in reevaluating what gives us purpose and meaning, rather than relying on quantifiable social feedback.
Written by urgent.news from Time's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
