大象传媒

听

鈥淐omparison is the thie/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f joy.鈥�-Theodore Roosevelt听

As a college student, I /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/find mysel/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f in the constant loop o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f setting high goals /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/for mysel/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f and becoming discouraged with others鈥� success. As I try to navigate the path that is the college experience, I can鈥檛 help but question where I /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/fit in or i/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f I deserve to be in my position. In this competitive environment, it鈥檚 easy to /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/find yoursel/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f constantly /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/feeling inadequate in comparison to others. This brings us to the theory o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f relative deprivation.听

Relative deprivation is the perception that we are worse o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f relative to those with whom we compare ourselves. Relative deprivation causes anger and resentment in others and within ourselves.听

According to the Ox/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/ford Re/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/ference, this concept was /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/first introduced by American sociologist Samuel Stou/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/fer. Stou/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/fer researched World War II data /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/for his book, The American Soldier, where army units with the highest rates o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f promotion also reported the highest rates o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f dissatis/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/faction /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/from those who were not promoted. American sociologist Robert King Merton then /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/further developed this theory by then arguing that higher rates o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f social mobility raised higher hopes, expectations, and encouraged over-optimistic social comparison.听

In a 鈥渄og-eat-dog world鈥�, it鈥檚 easy to get caught in the competition /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/for success. In some ways, you can lose your sense o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f sel/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f trying to live up to your expectations. We rob ourselves o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f joy, setting expectations based on our perception o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f others. Comparison puts a brick wall between us and our potential success. How can we overcome relative deprivation and its e/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/fects?

1. Practice Introspection

• Recognize the triggers that lead you down the rabbit hole o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f negativity. It is up to you to discern the values and goals that truly matter to you. Your goals will never be attainable i/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f you have them based on someone else鈥檚 standards.听

2. Sel/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f-Validation

• To truly grow, you need to accept your /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/feelings, thoughts, and experiences. Realize that your /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/feeling are valid and you deserve to be heard. Once you accept yoursel/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/for who you are, you won鈥檛 /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/feel the need to compete with others.听

3. Pat yoursel/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f on the back

• Know that you鈥檝e worked so hard! Only you know how hard you had to work to be where you are. Out o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f all people to praise, it should be yoursel/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/joy-in-social-media/f.听