Notes on Wills, T.A. (1981) Downward Comparison Principles in Social Psychology. Psychological Bulletin, 90, 245-271.
Wills, T.A. (1981) Downward Comparison Principles in Social Psychology. Psychological Bulletin, 90, 245-271.
Part of social comparison theory (Festinger, 1954)
Individuals are motivated to gain accurate evaluations of themselves by examining their opinions and abilities in comparison to others
Downward comparison (Wills, 1981) – a person experiencing negative affect can enhance their subjective well-being through comparison with a less fortunate other, the process occurring either passively or actively. Often used by people with low self-esteem
Defensive tendency that people use as a means of self-evaluation
Used studies about fear-affiliation effect (Schacter, 1959) , choice of others for social comparison, scapegoating, projection, aversive environmental events and attraction to others, social prejudice, hostile aggression, and humor
Situational corollary – downward comparison is evoked by a decrease in subjective well-being
Corollary 1 – downward comparison can occur on a passive basis in which person would take advantage of available opportunities for comparison with a less fortunate other
Corollary 2 – downward comparison can be affected on an active basis
Active derogation of another person, and increases distance of self from that other
Actively causing harm to another person, creating the opportunity to compare to less fortunate other
Personality corollary – person who are low in self-esteem are more likely to engage in downward comparison
Target principle – downward comparison (DC) tends to be directed at lower status targets
Ambivalence principle – People are ambivalent about downward comparison (not admirable)
Fear affiliation effect – (Schachter, 1959; Darley 1966) threatened subjects showed a greater preference for affiliating with other potential fellow sufferers compared to non-threatened subjects (can be already suffered, who are viewed as more fortunate because their turn is over)
Choice of others for social comparison – people
Part of social comparison theory (Festinger, 1954)
Individuals are motivated to gain accurate evaluations of themselves by examining their opinions and abilities in comparison to others
Downward comparison (Wills, 1981) – a person experiencing negative affect can enhance their subjective well-being through comparison with a less fortunate other, the process occurring either passively or actively. Often used by people with low self-esteem
Defensive tendency that people use as a means of self-evaluation
Used studies about fear-affiliation effect (Schacter, 1959) , choice of others for social comparison, scapegoating, projection, aversive environmental events and attraction to others, social prejudice, hostile aggression, and humor
Situational corollary – downward comparison is evoked by a decrease in subjective well-being
Corollary 1 – downward comparison can occur on a passive basis in which person would take advantage of available opportunities for comparison with a less fortunate other
Corollary 2 – downward comparison can be affected on an active basis
Active derogation of another person, and increases distance of self from that other
Actively causing harm to another person, creating the opportunity to compare to less fortunate other
Personality corollary – person who are low in self-esteem are more likely to engage in downward comparison
Target principle – downward comparison (DC) tends to be directed at lower status targets
Ambivalence principle – People are ambivalent about downward comparison (not admirable)
Fear affiliation effect – (Schachter, 1959; Darley 1966) threatened subjects showed a greater preference for affiliating with other potential fellow sufferers compared to non-threatened subjects (can be already suffered, who are viewed as more fortunate because their turn is over)
Choice of others for social comparison – people