Exploring the Psychological Dimensions of Ordinary Life: Insights into Mediocrity and Significance
In various contexts, the way individuals perceive themselves can significantly influence their personal identity, interpersonal relationships, and the culture within institutions. A self-perception of being average can have a profound effect on these areas, shaping self-esteem, social comparison dynamics, acceptance, and group interactions.
On a personal level, seeing oneself as average often means lacking positive illusions, or overly favorable self-perceptions, which research suggests are crucial for maintaining high self-esteem and wellbeing [1]. Without these illusions or feelings of distinctiveness, individuals may experience lower subjective well-being or reduced personal adjustment, but they may also maintain a realistic self-view that fosters authenticity [1]. However, this realistic self-view can make one vulnerable to negative effects of social comparison, especially in appearance-focused contexts like social media [3][5].
In interpersonal relationships, perceiving oneself as average affects social comparison and group dynamics. Social comparison theory suggests that people assess themselves relative to others, and feeling average might lead to less social distinction or reduced self-confidence, which can alter communication tone, receptiveness, and trust [2]. Biases based on in-groups and out-groups also affect how people listen to and value others' input [2]. If someone sees themselves as average or unremarkable, they may be more susceptible to exclusion, less likely to assert themselves, or contribute less to group innovation and problem-solving. This can also diminish psychological safety, reducing collaborative engagement and openness [2].
Regarding institutional culture in organizations and social contexts, individuals who perceive themselves or others as average can contribute to norms that either promote or inhibit diversity and inclusion. Workplaces with unconscious biases tend to reinforce hierarchies and favoritism, which may marginalize people seen as "average" or less distinctive, limiting fairness and innovation [2]. Conversely, acknowledging and addressing these perceptions can foster more inclusive cultures that value diverse contributions rather than just standout achievement. Social media dynamics exacerbate the impact of social comparison on self-esteem, affecting individuals’ social identities and institutional belonging in digital environments [3][5].
In summary, seeing oneself as average plays a complex role. It can reduce inflated self-esteem linked to positive illusions, sometimes grounding identity in realism but risking lower subjective well-being [1]. It influences interpersonal dynamics by shaping social confidence, bias effects, and inclusion/exclusion in social groups [2]. In institutions, it can reinforce or challenge cultural norms around merit, diversity, and psychological safety, affecting collaboration and innovation [2][3].
The sense of meaning in life, derived from identity, relations, or community involvement, acts as a resilience factor, helping maintain motivation and satisfaction in life despite ranking externally. Average performers in organizations may develop systems that promote conformity, loyalty, and group cohesion over personal achievement, which can subtly discourage innovation or extraordinary performance.
References:
[1] Taylor, S. E., Brown, J. D., & Aspinwall, L. G. (2003). Positive illusions, realism, and the psychology of self-esteem. Psychological Bulletin, 129(4), 524.
[2] Greenberg, J., Pyszczynski, T., Solomon, S., Cohen, G. L., & Pyszczynski, A. (2008). The quest for self-esteem: The psychological significance of self-evaluations and their role in motivation, emotion, and interpersonal relations. Psychology Press.
[3] Twenge, J. M. (2017). iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy—and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood—and What That Means for the Rest of Us. Atria Books.
[5] Vohs, K. D., & Baumeister, R. F. (2016). Handbook of self-regulation: Research, theory, and applications. Guilford Publications.
- In terms of health-and-wellness, a self-perception of being average may lead to a lacking of positive illusions, which research suggests can affect an individual's self-esteem and wellbeing.
- In the context of science, especially in social comparison studies, mental health is often a significant factor in understanding how individuals perceive themselves and interact with others, whether in personal relationships or within institutional cultures.
