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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“People compare themselves to others in social situations (Festinger 1954; Buunk and Gibbons 2007), and those experiencing negative affect can enhance their subjective wellbeing by comparing themselves to someone who is less fortunate than they are (Wills 1981).”
Background
Up, Up, and Away: Upgrading as a Response to Dissimilar Brand Users
Wang, Y., & John, D. R. (2018) · Journal of Marketing Research · doi:10.1177/0022243718820572 · Cited by 46
“Individuals who experience a self-threat often try to compare themselves favorably to inferior others (downward social comparison) for the purpose of selfenhancement (Hakmiller 1966; Thornton and Arrowood 1966; Wills 1981).”
Background
The Predictive Utility of Reward-Based Motives Underlying Excessive and Problematic Social Networking Site Use
Wadsley, M. G., Covey, J. A., & Ihssen, N. (2021) · Psychological Reports · doi:10.1177/00332941211025271 · Cited by 56
“The concept of downwards social comparisons was first introduced by Wills (1981) who described its basic principle as an attempt to increase one’s subjective self-esteem by making comparisons with a less fortunate other.”
Background
Like Goes with Like: The Role of Representativeness in Erroneous and Pseudo-Scientific Beliefs
Gilovich, T. D., & Savitsky, K. (2002) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511808098.036 · Cited by 50
Accessibility and fit as determinants of the salience of social categorizations
Blanz, M. (1999) · European Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/(sici)1099-0992(199902)29:1 · Cited by 105
Social Comparison in the Workplace: A Study of 60 Dual-Career Couples
Steil, J. M., & Hay, J. L. (1997) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/0146167297234008 · Cited by 46
e Construction of Meaning From Life Events: Empirical Studies of Personal Narratives
Sommer, K. L., Baumeister, R. F., & Stillman, T. F. (2013) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203146286-24 · Cited by 46

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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