What The Research Says
- Unhappy people (people with low ratings on measures of subjective well being) are generally more depressed when they compare their lot in life against others.
- These people are most depressed when they make upward comparisons against those who they perceive as having better, more satisfying lives.
- Happy people often gain little benefit from downward comparisons, but are not necessarily harmed by upward comparisons.
- Comparing against “more negative” events and counter-factuals that could have turned out worst can make us happy.
- In general, social comparisons (especially upward comparisons) are associated with reduced subjective well being, the absolute amount of money you have, for example, is much less important to your subjective well being than how much money you have relative to those you make comparisons with.
References
- Hedonic Consequences of Social Comparison: A Contrast of Happy and Unhappy People (UCR)
- Intrapersonal and Social Comparison Determinants of Happiness: A Range-Frequency Analysis (Boston University)
- Sonja Lyubomirsky: Overview of Research (Social Psychology Network)
- Well-being evidence for policy: A review (NEF)
The Choices
Limited or None – Clearly the only people worth comparing yourself to are the many, many voices in your head.
Score: +1 Happiness
Often (“It Could Be Worse”) – You count your blessings every day that you have not recently been run over by a freight train, carrying a cargo of Ginsu knives on a track covered in fire.
Score: +1 Happiness, +1 Risk
Often (“It Could Be Better) – You’ve turned keeping up with the Joneses into an Olympic Sport.
Score: -1 Happiness, +1 Risk