Cited by 2,705Social and Intergroup PsychologyEmotions and Moral BehaviorPsychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction

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Downward comparison principles in social psychology

Wills, Thomas A.·1981·Psychological Bulletin

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Abstract

The literature of social psychology contains a number of phenomena that appear to be paradoxical. For example, persons who face a threatening experience prefer to affiliate with threatened others rather than with nonthreatened others (Schachter, 1959), and persons in groups in which reward is equally distributed are less satisfied compared with persons in groups that include one particularly unfortunate member (Brickman, 1975). The purpose of this article is to show that these phenomena are best construed as social comparison processes and that various phenomena derive from one basic process termed downward comparison; the essence of this process is that persons can enhance their own subjective well-being by comparing themselves with a less fortunate other. In this article I show that downward comparison is a process evoked by negative affect, that there is considerable evidence for self-enhancing comparison processes, and that downward comparison effects are involved in several areas of social-psycho logical research.

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“ness of information about the potential harms of these drugs from health authorities, and coping with insecurities about the use of these drugs by increasing the sense of security and well-being (Wills, 1981).”
Background
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“This may be particularly true for individuals who are weak or threatened in a certain domain or who are depressed (Gibbons, 1986; Gibbons, Benbow, & Gerrard, 1994; Hakmiller, 1966; Reis, Gerrard, & Gibbons, 1993; Wills, 1981).”
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“Previous research has shown that perceived threats to the self can motivate people to engage in downward social comparisons (comparing oneself with someone who is worse) to protect their own self-esteem (Wills 1981).”
Background

Authors: Wills, T. A.
Corresponding author: Wills, Thomas A.
ORCID: Wills, Thomas A.
Venue: Psychological Bulletin
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 1981-09
Volume: 90
Issue: 2
Pages: 245-271
ISSN: 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
1939-1455
DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.90.2.245
OpenAlex: W2156796359
Semantic Scholar: 93e1ba7c88523e39e841218830a09828e97b5ffa
Cited by: 2,705
References: 97
Citations by year: 2026: 74 · 2025: 92 · 2024: 99 · 2023: 98 · 2022: 101 · 2021: 121 · 2020: 121 · 2019: 106 · 2018: 76 · 2017: 94 · 2016: 82 · 2015: 87 · 2014: 105 · 2013: 82 · 2012: 79
FWCI: 36.70
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotions and Moral Behavior
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Keywords: downward social comparison, self-enhancement, subjective well-being, negative affect

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Downward comparison principles in social psychology

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