Downward comparison in everyday life: reconciling self-enhancement models with the mood-cognition priming model.
Two models concerning downward comparison are motivational; they predict that when people are unhappy, they make downward comparisons to self-enhance (e.g., Wills, 1981). In contrast, the affect-cognition priming model (Wheeler & Miyake, 1992) predicts that unhappy people make upward comparisons because negative affect makes mood-congruent comparisons more accessible. The authors propose that both motivational and accessibility factors influence social comparisons. A study of undergraduates' self-recorded everyday comparisons supported this view. In addition, results (a) pointed to motivational influences other than self-enhancement and an accessibility influence other than mood-congruent priming, (b) suggested that motivated and unintended comparisons may differ somewhat in their susceptibility to motivational and accessibility influences, and (c) identified challenges to both self-enhancement and priming models.
Wood
J V
JV
Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. jwood@watarts.uwaterloo.ca
Michela
J L
JL
Giordano
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012649:Self Concept