Buunk B P, Collins R L, Taylor S E, VanYperen N W, Dakof G A
University of Nijmegen, Gelderland, The Netherlands.
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1990 Dec;59(6):1238-49. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.59.6.1238.
Research on social comparison processes has assumed that a comparison in a given direction (upward or downward) will lead to a particular affective reaction. In contrast, the present two studies proposed and found that a comparison can produce either positive or negative feelings about oneself, independent of its direction. Several factors moderated the tendency to derive positive or negative affect from upward and downward comparisons. In Study 1, cancer patients low in self-esteem and with low perceived control over their symptoms and illness were more likely to see downward comparisons as having negative implications for themselves. Those low in self-esteem were also more likely to perceive upward comparisons as negative. In Study 2, individuals with high marital dissatisfaction and those who felt uncertain about their marital relationship were more likely to experience negative affect from upward and downward comparisons. The implications of these findings for social comparison theory and for the coping and adaptation literature are discussed.
关于社会比较过程的研究假定，在特定方向（向上或向下）的比较会引发特定的情感反应。相比之下，目前的两项研究提出并发现，比较可以产生对自己的积极或消极感受，而与比较方向无关。几个因素调节了从向上和向下比较中产生积极或消极影响的倾向。在研究1中，自尊水平低且对自身症状和疾病控制感低的癌症患者更有可能将向下比较视为对自己有负面影响。自尊水平低的人也更有可能将向上比较视为负面的。在研究2中，婚姻不满程度高的人和对婚姻关系感到不确定的人更有可能从向上和向下比较中体验到负面影响。讨论了这些发现对社会比较理论以及应对和适应文献的意义。
