With age, peers become a salient source of feedback via social comparison, which influences self-evaluations. However, not all comparisons are created equal. Candace's research examines the characteristics of peers that influence children's interpretation of social comparison information and in turn, self-perceptions. Characteristics of interest include expertise, traits (Lapan & Boseovski, 2017), and representativeness. Further, her research interests include understanding individual differences in children's propensity to engage in social comparison. Understanding the process of social comparison in childhood has important implications for academic and parenting practices of providing developmentally appropriate comparison information.
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