Keeping up with the joneses: A field study of the relationships among upward, lateral, and downward comparisons and pay level satisfaction

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Harris, Michael M.; Anseel, Frederik; Lievens, Filip
• 署名单位: University of Missouri System; University of Missouri Saint Louis; Ghent University; University of Missouri System; University of Missouri Saint Louis
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0021-9010
• DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.93.3.665
• 发表日期: 2008
• 页码: 665-673
• 关键词: pay level satisfaction; Social comparisons; polynomial regression analysis

摘要

The authors examined the relationship between the direction of pay comparisons and pay level satisfaction. They hypothesized that upward pay comparisons would significantly predict pay level satisfaction, even when controlling for other comparisons. Results reported in 2 samples (U.S. sample, N = 295; Belgian sample, N = 67) generally supported this hypothesis. Analyses showed that individuals who were paid much less than their upward pay comparison were dissatisfied with their pay level. The highest levels of pay level satisfaction were observed when actual pay was congruent with the upward comparison pay level. There was also evidence that individuals who were paid much more than their upward pay comparison were dissatisfied with their pay level. However, the negative effects of overreward on pay satisfaction were considerably smaller than were those of underreward.