Social comparison in moral education

This article explores the functional role of social comparison in students’ moral development by synthesizing philosophical frameworks with psychological research. I argue that social comparison is an essential cognitive channel for internalizing moral concepts and shaping moral identity. By integrating temporal comparisons—specifically past- and future-oriented self-evaluations—the study demonstrates how these processes align with moral purpose and the growth mindset to foster development. Additionally, the paper examines the ‘complex economy’ of emotions triggered by moral exemplars, identifying how developmental phases and self-esteem dictate whether an exemplar inspires or threatens the self. The findings indicate potential utility of negative moral exemplars and the challenges of extreme moral exemplars.