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Frequent Social Comparisons and Destructive Emotions and Behaviors: The Dark Side of Social Comparisons

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Social comparisons may seem to serve several positive functions, including self-enhancement. Frequent social comparisons, however, have a dark side. Two studies examined the relationship between frequent social comparisons and destructive emotions and behaviors. In Study 1, people who said they made frequent social comparisons were more likely to experience envy, guilt, regret, and defensiveness, and to lie, blame others, and to have unmet cravings. In Study 2, police officers who said they made frequent social comparisons were more likely to show ingroup bias and to be less satisfied with their jobs. The dark side of frequent social comparisons was not associated with self-esteem. Results are discussed in terms of the role of individual differences in social comparison processes.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Sonja Lyubomirsky and Michael Schmitt for comments on an earlier draft of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College, 100 Tuck Hall, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA

    Judith B. White

  2. Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Ellen J. Langer

  3. Department of Economics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Leeat Yariv

  4. Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA

    John C. Welch IV

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  1. Judith B. White
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  2. Ellen J. Langer
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Correspondence to Judith B. White.

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White, J.B., Langer, E.J., Yariv, L. et al. Frequent Social Comparisons and Destructive Emotions and Behaviors: The Dark Side of Social Comparisons. J Adult Dev 13, 36–44 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-006-9005-0

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