Experiential Influences on Modifying the Better-Than- and Worse-Than- Average Effects

Abstract

When comparing ourselves with others, we often show the better-than-average effect (BTAE) on familiar or easy tasks (e.g., driving) but the worse-than-average effect (WTAE) on unfamiliar or difficult tasks (e.g., juggling). This study examined how task difficulty influences comparative judgment across three experiments. In Experiment 1, participants recalled word lists under different time limits; the most difficult condition (1 second per word) produced the strongest WTAE. In Experiment 2, Stroop task difficulty varied by response deadlines, with greater difficulty again producing stronger WTAE. In Experiment 3, participants traced shapes with a computer mouse under normal and mirrored conditions. Shape complexity did not affect judgments, but normal mouse use produced a strong BTAE, whereas mirrored mouse use elicited a strong WTAE. Across experiments, participants judged themselves as better than others on easy tasks and worse on difficult ones, showing that social comparison biases are highly sensitive to task difficulty.

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