friends or foes?

Self-evaluation maintenance theory refers to discrepancies between two people in a relationship. Two people in a relationship each aim to keep themselves feeling good psychologically throughout a comparison process to the other person.

Self-evaluation is defined as the way a person views him/herself. It is the continuous process of determining personal growth and progress, which can be raised or lowered by the behavior of a close other (a person that is psychologically close). People are more threatened by friends than strangers.

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I watched Desperate Housewives last night. In it, there was this absurd comparison of children's ability between Gabrielle and Susan. Well, don't we all experience such similar incidents every now and then?

I too heard about a friend getting married. To me, it was a fairy tale wedding come true. But with every dream wedding comes along a friend (or so you think) who will compare herself to you, aiming to make herself feel better/superior. It isn't exactly malicious, but won't the world be a better place that we learn to esteem and exhort others? Especially that of friends. =)

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"Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." ~Phil 2~