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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Smith, R. H., & Insko, C. A. (1987) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/0146167287131011 · Cited by 78
Why a Simple Act of Kindness Is Not as Simple as It Seems: Underestimating the Positive Impact of Our Compliments on Others
Boothby, E. J., & Bohns, V. K. (2020) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/0146167220949003 · Cited by 82
“…refrain from giving compliments out of jealousy and competitiveness due to upward social comparison (Aspinwall & Taylor, 1993; Mendes et al., 2001; Wills, 1981)–compliment givers also reported how bad they would feel about themselves having noticed something they liked about the stranger using a…”
Background
Insurance demand and social comparison: An experimental analysis
Friedl, A., de Miranda, K. L., & Schmidt, U. (2014) · Journal of Risk and Uncertainty · doi:10.1007/s11166-014-9189-9 · Cited by 78
“Some empirical findings suggest that comparison to less fortunate subjects enhances subjective well-being (Buunk 2007; Wills 1981).”
Background
Burnout, Uncertainty, and the Desire for Social Comparison Among Nurses
Buunk, B. P., Schaufeli, W. B., & Ybema, J. F. (1994) · Journal of Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.1994.tb01570.x · Cited by 77
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Schadenfreude and Gluckschmerz
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“We probably feel them, however, more than we like to admit or even realize (e.g., Heider, 1958; R. H. Smith, 2013; van Dijk & Ouwerkerk, 2014; 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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